Penn Jillette


Comedian, Illusionist, Magician

About

Also Known As
Penn Fraser Jillette
Birth Place
Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA
Born
March 05, 1955

Biography

As the talkative half of the groundbreaking comedy-illusionist duo, Penn and Teller, Penn Jillette spent decades on the stage before parlaying his commanding personality and intellectual leanings into all manner of offshoots as a personality and pundit. Following the pair's Broadway hit, "Penn and Teller Go Public" (1987), Jillette began appearing in films like "Tough Guys Don't Dance" (...

Photos & Videos

Biography

As the talkative half of the groundbreaking comedy-illusionist duo, Penn and Teller, Penn Jillette spent decades on the stage before parlaying his commanding personality and intellectual leanings into all manner of offshoots as a personality and pundit. Following the pair's Broadway hit, "Penn and Teller Go Public" (1987), Jillette began appearing in films like "Tough Guys Don't Dance" (1987), while he joined Teller for the practical joke-laden dark comedy "Penn & Teller Get Killed" (1989). He soon ventured into other mediums, becoming a columnist, author, voiceover actor, radio host, TV host and documentarian - even having a recurring role as the head of the Witches' Council on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (ABC/The WB, 1996-2003). Penn and Teller went on to host the popular documentary series "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" (Showtime, 2003-2010), on which they debated and sometimes debunked science, paranormal activity and current fads, often ruffling a few feathers in the process. In between, Jillette served as host of the game show "Identity" (NBC, 2006-07), was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the 2008 season of "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ) and even became a New York Times bestseller with God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales (2011). Regardless of the medium, Jillette brought his irreverent and macabre sense of humor, as well as a counter-culture hip caché to the proceedings.

Penn Fraser Jillette was born on March 5 1955, in the rural, western Massachusetts town of Greenfield. He was the youngest son of Canadian parents Valda and Sam, an antique coin dealer, and with his only sister 23 years his senior, he was essentially raised an only child. But young Jillette had no problems keeping himself entertained, the avid reader already exhibiting signs of an unusual worldview via his fascination with animal traps and juggling. His childhood neighbor Michael Moschen would grow up to be one of the most renowned jugglers in the world, and the pair learned their early skills together. But young Jillette's interest in staged magic was tempered by a disillusionment with showy performers who attempted to pass their tricks off as reality. Jillette's analytical mindset did not buy into that style, even if the liar in him wanted to. At age 18, he found a mentor and idol in James "The Amazing Randi" Randi, a professional debunker who presented magic as deceptive entertainment and not a supernatural talent.

Jillette took Randi's notion to heart, and after graduating from Greenfield High School in 1973, he spent a year honing his stage skills at the Ringling Brothers' Clown College in Sarasota, FL. In 1975, he moved to San Francisco, CA, where friends Robert Teller and Wier Chrisemer performed a musical magic show under the name of The Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. Jillette joined them and found a kindred creative spirit in Teller, with the two sharing similarly radical viewpoints on the world and an experimental approach to the well-worn genre of magic shows. Jillette's second passion was writing, and he began to incorporate his wordsmithing into the act in the form of running commentary. Jillette and Teller developed increasingly more outrageous ideas and Chrisemer, who was not quite on the same page creatively, left the act. They renamed themselves Penn and Teller and took their deconstructivist magic show on the road, immediately making an impression on audiences with Jillette's commanding 6' 6" frame, booming carnival barker voice, and intellectual arrogance, coupled with Teller's wide-eyed, mute creepiness. People were also thrown by the fact that each "trick" was followed with an explanation of how it had been pulled off.

By the mid-1980s, Penn and Teller's reputation for shaking up the stage show world with their unique blend of illusionism, performance art, dark humor and liberal commentary, brought them to New York's off-Broadway district with "Penn and Teller Go Public." The show was broadcast on PBS in 1985 and earned the duo an Emmy Award. They were promoted to Broadway in 1987, and went nationwide with appearances on edgier variety shows including "Late Night with David Letterman" (NBC, 1982-1993) and "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ). Jillette's increasingly recognizable persona was tapped for several low-budget productions including the Linda Blair exploitation film "Savage Island" (1985), "My Chauffeur" (1986), and the Norman Mailer cult favorite "Tough Guys Don't Dance" (1987). In 1989, the duo released a book and home video called "Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends," which gave step-by-step instructions for performing a number of tricks. They forayed into feature films with "Penn and Teller Get Killed" (1989) which, despite having legendary filmmaker Arthur Penn onboard as director, was a resounding flop.

While Penn and Teller spent the 1990s steadily touring the United States and Europe, they continued to expand their presence (as a pair and individually) across new pop culture mediums. In 1990, Jillette began to establish himself as a writer with a regular column in the fledgling PC/Computing magazine, in which the magazine's subject was often secondary to his intellectual commentary on unrelated humorous topics. The avowed fan of experimental rock and roll hosted "The Eyes Scream: A History of the Residents" (1991) a documentary about the avant-garde performers. Penn and Teller released their second "magic" book, Penn and Teller's How to Play With Your Food, and taped another PBS Special, "Behind the Scenes" in 1992. They released two more specials for Britain's Channel 4, and Stateside, Jillette was tapped for a suitably wicked recurring role as the head of the witches' council on "Sabrina The Teenage Witch" (ABC/The WB, 1996-2003). He also voiced the role of the TV announcer in Disney's "Toy Story" (1995) and became the signature network voice of Comedy Central.

As a pair, the certified pop culture figures were tapped for appearances on suitably irreverent TV shows including "The Drew Carey Show" (ABC, 1995-2004), "Babylon 5" (TNT, 1993-98), and "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989- ). They also introduced the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment of "Fantasia 2000" (1999), and were popular celebrity guests on "Hollywood Squares" (syndicated, 1998-2004). In 1998, they sought to revive the dormant variety show format with the creation of "Penn and Teller's Sin City Spectacular" (FX, 1998-99), an offbeat blend of bawdy song, dance, comedy, and sideshow acts that earned an Emmy nomination. They returned to live performance in 2001 with a long-standing, six-night a week engagement at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Adding to that demanding schedule, they launched Showtime's "Penn and Teller: Bullshit!" (2003- ), a controversial series that encouraged critical thinking by deconstructing commonly held theories about science, public policy, and religion. The documentary-style series offered them a chance focus on their passion for philosophical and political debate, earning them considerable criticism for their open atheism, skepticism, and libertarianism, but also earning several Emmy nominations and a Writers Guild Award in 2004.

Jillette realized a lifelong dream with the release of his first novel, Sock in 2004 and went on to further explore his fascination with cultural deconstruction as co-director and co-producer (along with comedian-actor Paul Provenza) of the feature "The Aristocrats" (2005). The shocking and hilarious documentary allowed a cross-section of comic talent to offer their take on the history and allure of an oft-told and exceedingly filthy in-joke in the entertainment world. The picture received excellent reviews and an enthusiastic response from indie film fans, as well as a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. While still maintaining his six-day a week performance schedule at the Rio and production of "Bullshit," Jillette conquered new territory in 2006 as the host of an hour-long, live radio show on Vegas-area station Free-FM. The certified comic personality also hosted the primetime game show "Identity" (NBC, 2006-07), and in early 2008, was added to the cast of the reality show hit "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ).

Jillette realized a lifelong dream with the release of his first novel, Sock in 2004 and went on to further explore his fascination with cultural deconstruction as co-director and co-producer (along with comedian-actor Paul Provenza) of the feature "The Aristocrats" (2005). The shocking and hilarious documentary allowed a cross-section of comic talent to offer their take on the history and allure of an oft-told and exceedingly filthy in-joke in the entertainment world. The picture received excellent reviews and an enthusiastic response from indie film fans, as well as a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. While still maintaining his six-day a week performance schedule at the Rio and production of "Bullshit," Jillette conquered new territory in 2006 as the host of an hour-long, live radio show on Vegas-area station Free-FM. The certified comic personality also hosted the primetime game show "Identity" (NBC, 2006-07), and in early 2008, was added to the cast of the reality show hit "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ). He was eliminated after the first round. Meanwhile, he published the New York Times bestseller, God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales (2011), and joined the cast of "Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC, 2004- ) alongside Arsenio Hall, Debbie Gibson, Clay Aiken and Adam Carolla.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Director's Cut (2016)
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015)
Misery Loves Comedy (2015)
Himself
Tim's Vermeer (2013)
Michael Moore Hates America (2004)
Hayley Wagner, Star (1999)
Fear of Fiction (1999)
Albert
Ked Nerd (1998)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Nothing Sacred (1997)
Hackers (1995)
Toy Story (1995)
Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King (1993)
Himself
Penn & Teller Get Killed (1989)
Himself
Light Years (1988)
Voice
Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987)
Off Beat (1986)
My Chauffeur (1986)
Bone

Cinematography (Feature Film)

The Aristocrats (2005)
Camera Operator

Writer (Feature Film)

Director's Cut (2016)
Screenplay
Tim's Vermeer (2013)
Writer
Penn & Teller Get Killed (1989)
Screenplay

Producer (Feature Film)

Director's Cut (2016)
Producer
The Aristocrats (2005)
Executive Producer

Music (Feature Film)

Oral Hygiene (1991)
Bongos, Bass, And Bob Member

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Misery Loves Comedy (2015)
Other
Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King (1993)
Other

Director (Special)

Penn & Teller Go Public (1985)
Creator

Cast (Special)

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)
Himself
Las Vegas Live! (2004)
Interviewee
The Great American History Quiz: 50 States (2001)
The Master of Deception (2000)
The Unpleasant World of Penn and Teller (2000)
Penn & Teller's Home Invasion Magic (1997)
The World's Wildest Magic (1997)
It's a Wonderful Cyberlife: A Holiday Buying Guide (1996)
The World's Greatest Magic II (1995)
Discover Magazine's 5th Annual Technology Awards (1994)
Host
Hal Roach: Hollywood's King of Laughter (1994)
Narrator
Aspen Comedy Festival (1994)
Harley-Davidson's 90th Birthday Blast (1993)
Indecision '92: The Republican National Convention (1992)
This Is MST3K (1992)
Penn & Teller: Don't Try This at Home! (1990)
Showtime Comedy Club All-Stars III (1989)
Host
Woodstock: Return to the Planet of the '60s (1989)
Ron Reagan Is the President's Son (1988)
Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread (1987)
Penn & Teller Go Public (1985)

Writer (Special)

Penn & Teller's Home Invasion Magic (1997)
Writer
Penn & Teller: Don't Try This at Home! (1990)
Writer
Ron Reagan Is the President's Son (1988)
Writer
Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread (1987)
Writer

Producer (Special)

Penn & Teller's Home Invasion Magic (1997)
Co-Executive Producer

Special Thanks (Special)

Penn & Teller's Home Invasion Magic (1997)
Writer
Penn & Teller: Don't Try This at Home! (1990)
Writer
Ron Reagan Is the President's Son (1988)
Writer
Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread (1987)
Writer

Misc. Crew (Special)

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)
Other
Penn & Teller's Home Invasion Magic (1997)
Other

Life Events

1974

Attended the Ringling Brothers' Clown College

1981

Renamed themselves Penn and Teller (after Chrisemer left the act) and took their magic show on the road

1985

Performed their act "Penn and Teller Go Public" off-Broadway (broadcast on PBS), show moved to Broadway in 1987

1987

Featured in the Norman Mailer cult favorite "Tough Guys Don't Dance"

1989

Co-starred with Teller in the dark comedy "Penn and Teller Get Killed" directed by Arthur Penn

1989

Released debut book, <i>Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends</i> with Teller; also a home video

1990

Wrote a regular column in the now-defunct <i>PC/Computing</i> magazine

1991

Hosted "The Eyes Scream: A History of the Residents" a documentary about the avant-garde performers

1992

Appeared (with Teller) in the PBS Special, "Behind the Scenes"

1992

Released second "magic" book, <i>Penn and Teller's How to Play With Your Food</i>

1995

Voiced the role of the TV announcer in Disney's "Toy Story"

1996

Began a recurring role as Drell, the head of the witches' council on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" (ABC)

1998

Performed in (also co-produced) the variety show "Penn and Teller's Sin City Spectacular" (FX)

2001

Performed (with Teller) a long-standing, six-night a week engagement at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

2003

Co-created and featured in Showtime's controversial series "Penn and Teller: Bullshit!"; earned several Emmy nominations from 2004-2009 for Outstanding Reality Program and Outstanding Writing

2004

Published first novel, <i>Sock</i>

2005

Co-produced (with Paul Provenza) the documentary feature "The Aristocrats"

2006

Hosted a live radio show on Vegas-area station Free-FM

2006

Hosted the primetime game show "Identity" (NBC)

2008

Joined the cast of the ABC reality show, "Dancing with the Stars"

Bibliography