Penn and Teller

Penn and Teller are a two-man magic and comedy team, specializing in gory tricks (in which the mechanisms of the illusions are fully revealed) and clever pranks, who have become associated with Las Vegas, skepticism and libertarianism. They call themselves ?a couple of eccentric guys who have learned how to do a few cool things.? http://www.pennandteller.com/03/coolstuff/bio.html

Teller

Teller was born Raymond Joseph Teller on February 14, 1948 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but has since had his name legally changed to Teller. He attended Amherst College and taught Latin at Lawrence High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Teller does not speak while performing although there are occasional exceptions, mostly when the audience is not aware that it is his voice that is being heard. His trademark of not speaking began as a way of dealing with audience hecklers.

Related Topics:
February 14 - 1948 - Philadelphia - Pennsylvania - Amherst College - Latin - Lawrence High School - Lawrenceville - New Jersey

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Teller began performing with a friend, Weir Chirsamer, as the Ottmar Scheckt Society for the Preservation of Weird and Disgusting Music: they joined up with Penn Jillette and renamed themselves the Asparagus Valley Cultural Society.

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Teller is an accomplished sleight of hand artist and is considered an expert on the history of magic. He is also a talented painter.

Related Topics:
Sleight of hand - Painter

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Despite his trademark of never speaking, Teller has spoken in a number of films and television shows. Teller played an anthropomorphic cat, Mr. Boots, on an episode of Dharma & Greg. http://pennandteller.com/sincity/teller/articles/mrboots.html He also played the character of Mortimer in the 2000 film adaptation of the musical The Fantasticks. He voiced himself in the 1999 "The Simpsons" episode "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder". He also appeared (and spoke) in Mysteries of Magic, Volume 3. He spoke several lines at the end of Penn & Teller Get Killed. He also speaks occasionally in the travelogue series Penn and Teller's Magic and Mystery Tour, though even in this series he mostly lets Penn speak on his behalf.

Related Topics:
Anthropomorphic - Dharma & Greg - 2000 - The Fantasticks - The Simpsons - Penn & Teller Get Killed - Travelogue - Penn and Teller's Magic and Mystery Tour

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Teller is the author of When I'm Dead All This Will Be Yours!, a biography/memoir of his father.

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