Penn and Teller

Guide Note

Magic and comedy duo Penn & Teller have been performing together since 1975. The pair has been in residence at Las Vegas' Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino since 2001 where they perform every night of the week except Fridays. They also co-host Penn & Teller: Bullshit! on Showtime.

The duo specializes in performing sometimes gory tricks and pranks while simultaneously revealing how they are done. Penn (Penn Jillette) delivers the patter while Teller (Raymond Joseph Teller) remains silent, miming his way through their performances.

Penn & Teller first performed as the "Asparagus Valley Cultural Society" with Weir Chrisimer in San Francisco in the late 70s. By 1985, the trio had become a duo, and Penn & Teller were receiving rave reviews for their Off-Broadway show Penn & Teller Go Public. The show led to several late night talk show appearances, PBS specials and an eventual Broadway run.

Following in magician Harry Houdini's historic footsteps, Penn & Teller utilize their Showtime program Bullshit! to expose the fraudulent practices of those perpetuating unfounded political, medical and supernatural claims. The program has taken on everything from alien abductions to cryptozoology and anger management.

Fast Facts

1. Met in 1975
2. Stage show: Live at the Rio (Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas)
3. Television show: Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
4. Visiting Scholars: MIT
5. Books: Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends, How to Play with Your Food, How to Play in Traffic
6. Movie: Penn & Teller Get Killed
7. Select television specials: Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular, Penn & Teller Home Invasion, Don't Try This at Home
8. Select television guest appearances: Babylon 5, The Drew Carey Show, The Simpsons
9. Won Richard Dawkins Award for promoting Atheism