Which one is which?
Magic’s Master Mischief Makers
The Tale of Penn and Teller
Two sides of the same coin, Penn & Teller
     Penn & Teller is the stage name for two American magicians, Penn Jillette (born 1955) and Teller (born 1948). You may know them only from Fool Us, but Penn & Teller have been around for decades.
In fact:
The pair have been performing illusions together for over 30 years and are experts in their field. They have accumulated over 40 US patents for their magic tricks during their careers.
The duo has appeared on many stages and on several television shows, including Penn & Teller: Fool Us (to the displeasure of some magicians) and Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, and is currently headlining at The Rio in Las Vegas. Jillette is the act’s emcee and raconteur.
Penn Jillette and Teller were introduced to each other by Weir Chrisemer. They performed their first show together at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival on August 19, 1975.
From the late 1970s through 1981, Penn, Teller, and Chrisemer performed as a trio called “The Asparagus Valley Cultural Society,” which played in Petaluma, California, at the Phoenix Theater. Penn and Teller became close friends and performed together as street magicians until 1997.
But wait a second!
Bathe in the eccentric ocean of P&T, in Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends.
Learn to execute your own tricks and pranks, while getting a unique glimpse into the minds of these master magicians and pranksters.
Which one is Penn and which one is Teller?
Together Opposite, a partnership in paradox
Which one is Penn and which one is Teller?
Penn of Penn and Teller
Penn was born in the town of Greenfield, Massachusetts. His mother, Valda Rudolph Jillette (1909–2000), worked as a secretary. Penn’s father, Samuel Herbert Jillette (1912–1999), worked at the Franklin County Jail in Greenfield.
After reading the Bible in his early adolescence, Penn Jillette became an atheist.
He was later asked to leave the church after asking questions in a youth group, which allegedly made skeptics of his peers.
Penn Jillette was in the band Bongos, Bass, and Bob in 1988, during the run of the off-Broadway hit. He played bass, Dean J. Seal provided the bongos, and Rob “Bob” Elk provided the guitar (Running Elk).
In 1996, Penn Jillette had a recurring role on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as Drell, the head of the Witches’ Council. He and Teller both appeared in the pilot with Debbie Harry as the third member of the Council. The show was created by Jillette’s friend Nell Scovell.
How tall is Penn Jillette?
Penn Jillette, standing at 6’6″, is the tall half.
He’s the tall, loud one with his left ring fingernail painted red.
Why does Penn have one colored nail?
The juggler’s red fingernail became Penn’s way of honoring his mother, Valda. She always told him to make sure everything looked presentable before stepping out into public view. She told him to keep his hands looking neat for the audience.
Why does Penn Jillette have a red fingernail?
Penn’s red-painted fingernail is nota quirky fashion choice. The one nail painted red has a deeper meaning.
Jillette had a hard time packing for his first show. His mother told him to get an elegant manicure because people would be looking closely at his hands and he needed to keep his hands looking neat for his spectators.
But Jillette responded with red nails. Classic Penn!
It’s now been over 20 years since he got that manicure.
Teller of Penn and Teller
Though he was born Raymond Teller, he now goes by only “Teller.”
Raymond Teller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irene B. (née Derrickson) and Israel Max “Joseph” Teller (1913–2004). His father, who was of Russian-Jewish descent, was born in Brooklyn and raised in Philadelphia. His mother came from a farming family in Delaware.
Teller was a graduate student in mathematics at Princeton University.
Chrisemer met Teller when he traveled to Princeton from New Jersey for his graduation from college. Teller and Chrisemer played humbug together to impress the ladies and became lifelong friends. Both Penn and Teller graduated from Harvard University in 1977.
Teller began performing as The Othmar Schoeck Memorial Society for the Preservation of Unusual and Disgusting Music with his virtual magician friend Weir Chrisemer. Teller met Penn Jillette in 1974. They formed the Asparagus Valley Cultural Society with Chrisemer, performing at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and later in San Francisco.
In 1981, Jillette and Teller began performing exclusively as Penn & Teller, a partnership that has lasted to this day. Penn and Teller were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of live performance on April 5, 2013. Their star, the 2,494th to be awarded, is located near the Harry Houdini star . The Magic Castle recognized them the next day with the Magicians of The Year award.
Teller is a magician, illusionist, writer, actor, painter, and film director from the United States. Along with Penn Jillette, he is half of the comedy magic duo Penn & Teller. During a performance, Teller does not speak.
Teller (magician) Height
At 5’9″, Teller’s height is “average” (for an American man).
Teller (born Raymond Joseph Teller on February 14, 1948) is the small half. But he’s not as small as you’d think.
He’salways standing next to “The Sasquatch of Magic” Penn Jillette.
Penn and Teller Age
How old is Penn?
Penn Jillette is 69 years old. Penn was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, on March 5, 1955 (age 67 as of 2023) and currently resides in the Las Vegas Valley. He stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds.
How old is Teller?
Teller is 77 years old. Teller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 14, 1948 (age 75 as of 2023). He stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs around 155 pounds.
How long have Penn and Teller been together?
Penn and Teller have been performing together for over 44 years, as of July 18, 2024.
Penn Jillette and Teller first started performing together in the late 1970s. Their partnership as the duo Penn & Teller formally began in 1981.
Why Is Teller Mute?
Despite his public persona being mute, in private, Raymond is not mute (Teller’s real name is Raymond Joseph Teller).
Teller never speaks during his performances.
There are exceptions, such as when the audience is unaware . In their early Broadway show, he provided the voice of “Mofo the Psychic Gorilla” using a radio microphone cupped in his hand.
Teller’s trademark silence began when he was a teenager. He made a living performing magic at college fraternity parties. He found If he maintained silence throughout his act, spectators refrained from throwing beer and heckling him and paid more attention to his performance.
Penn & Teller: Fool Us started in England in 2011, got shut down, was revived on the CW in 2015, and has been a mainstay of the network since. The show’s premise is simple: a magician gets a five-to-ten minute set to show legendary magic duo, Penn & Teller, a trick.
Just once.
Penn & Teller then try to guess how the trick was done. If they get fooled and can’t figure it out, the magician in question receives a trophy and a spot in Penn & Teller’s long-running Vegas show.
what’s the most important difference between Penn and Teller?
One thing that sets them apart is their height difference. It’s easy to tell who’s who because Teller (the short one) is typically quieter than his partner, while Penn (the taller one) speaks up more often—and loudly when he does speak!
if you’re trying to figure out which magician is which at a show orwant to know what they sound like, this article should help clear things up for you and get your brain thinking about how we perceive people based on first impressions!
that’s not all you need to know about these two magicians. They share many things in common. They both have bushy eyebrows, neither wears hats on stage, neither dresses in black tuxedos with red ties or bowties, neither are left-handed, and neither was born on October 5th, 1946.
Penn and Teller Now
As of 2023, Penn and Teller continue to be one of the most enduring and influential duos in the world of magic and entertainment. Their unique blend of comedy, magic, and intellectual discourse has kept audiences engaged for over four decades. They are currently headlining at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, a residency they have maintained since 2001. Their show, “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” where aspiring magicians attempt to fool the duo with a unique magic trick, continues to be a hit on The CW network.
In addition to their stage performances and television appearances, Penn and Teller are active in various philanthropic endeavors. They are outspoken advocates for thinking, skepticism, and atheism. Penn Jillette, the speaking half of the duo, frequently shares his views on a variety of topics through his podcast, “Penn’s Sunday School.” Teller, known for his silence during performances, is a respected educator and has contributed to research in the field of magic history. Despite their long-standing career, Penn and Teller show no signs of slowing down and continue to captivate audiences with their unique, hilarious, and thought-provoking performances.
The Last Act: a final bow
The curtain call on Penn and Teller’s tale
Penn and Teller’s magic lies notin the grandeur of their illusions, but in the duo’s remarkable ability to combine humor, intellect, and a deft defiance of convention.
They are more than mere illusionists – Penn and Teller are storytellers, educators, and debunkers of the magical realm, inviting us to marvel at and question the world of illusion.
Their story serves as a testament to the transformative power of curiosity, creativity, and relentless pursuit of the unconventional.
In their own words, “Magic isa trick. But a trick is nothing without an audience.”
As the spotlight dims and the curtain falls, let’s continue to carry forward the enchantment and wonder Penn and Teller brought to the stage.
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