I’m not sure which one is which, but is the “little” guy genuinely mute, or is that just part of their act?
Just part of the act.
Raymond Joseph Teller (his full name) actually had a speaking part as himself in a recent episode of “The Simpsons.” He’s also done quite a few movies and such.
Penn Jilette is the big guy. Teller can speak like anyone else. It’s just a gimmick (and it serves Penn well, too).
There was a special on magic on A&E or TLC a few months ago in which Teller spoke extensively. I also think he does an occasional piece on NPR. And I once saw them do a trick in which he faces away from the audience and says a couple of words.
They do have a website, but I’ve forgotten the name.
[hijack]
I once made a pair of glasses for Teller. The name on all his insurance paperwork was only listed as “Teller”. Neat little glasses, too.
[/hijack]
Teller is also the voice of MOFO THE PSYCHIC GORILLA, but he does it with his hand over his face so you can’t see his lips move. Took me a while to notice it when I saw them the first time.
On a radio show in the Bay Area years ago, Penn & Teller were on air, and the host goaded Teller into saying something. After several minutes of poking and prodding, Teller said “Fuck.” (or something.) So, they had to beep it and it couldn’t air.
Pretty funny.
I have great respect for Penn & Teller both are on the editorial board of the “Skeptics Society” a true asset to the scientific community.
Penn and Teller kick my ass. I saw them back in October. Teller does Mofo’s voice from offstage now–at one point, Penn asks him to come out and fix something on Mofo, and they make a really obvious noise of the microphone going back onto the stand.
They also had a bit which is supposed to be Teller’s first big speaking part in the show. The trick involved a giant wood chipper–which, of course, drowned out his voice entirely.
He is a very eloquent speaker–in fact, I think he was a Latin teacher before he gave it up to be a “rip-off artiste”.
Dr. J
Are they lovers, youknow, kissy kissy?
I hope not; I’ve always thought Teller was kinda hot.
Penn is quite the unabashed heterosexual. I read that, in his new house, he had a special faucet/jet installed in the hot tub to… ahem … provide pleasure to the ladies.
He’s either straight, or a saint.
Penn Jillette, as lovelee wrote, is a practicing heterosexual. However, based on some admittedly slim evidence, I suspect that Teller may be gay.
On the speaking issue, Teller talks on screen in their feature film Penn and Teller Get Killed.
'Penn is quite the unabashed heterosexual. I read that, in his new house, he had a special faucet/jet
installed in the hot tub to… ahem … provide pleasure to the ladies. ’
Don’t need a special jet. They already have jets that work for this just fine. the woman just bends over it near the rim.
At last a question I can answer with firsthand knowledge! I have seen Penn and Teller perform live twice, both times here in Atlanta. They do an incredible live show which dwarfs in its excellence anything you’ve seen them do on TV or in the movies. Take any opportunity you get to go see them.
And they love their fans. Both times I saw them, they went into the lobby or outside the venue after the show to sign autographs and chat. Not only can Teller speak, but he does so readily and eloquently. It’s even startling how talkative he is given his taciturn nature in the act.
I love it that he also does commentary on NPR. That’s so appropriate! Normally we think of him as a voiceless body; on NPR he’s a disembodied voice.
Adds new meaning to the term rim job, no? 
Yer pal,
Satan
I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
One month, three days, 12 hours, 26 minutes and 46 seconds.
1340 cigarettes not smoked, saving $167.59.
Life saved: 4 days, 15 hours, 40 minutes.
Why? Because he paints ONE of his fingernails? :rolleyes:
That’s Penn. A friend of mine once asked him what that was all about, and he said it meant he once killed a woman for asking personal questions.
(As a magician, I think it’s all about misdirection. But it could well be personal.)
Dr. J
Ok, let’s get to the heart of the matter:
How the hell do they do the bullet-catching (in their teeth) trick?!
I’ve seen it done live at least twice (possibly three times). I’ve seen it on TV more. I’ve eaten dinner with Penn and Teller, fercryingoutloud (and, to back up what others have said, Teller definitely speaks, and is quite a nice guy), and I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how they do that trick.
Anybody here who can spill the beans?
David–you’re asking a question that magicians have been asking for a long time now. I know how the trick is usually done (although I’m not going to say–that whole magician’s code thing, you know, but it’s not hard to come up with) but they certainly don’t do it that way. So no, anyone here who can tell you how they go about it is probably lying.
That’s definitely the best trick I’ve ever seen live. I should have asked Penn how they did it when I talked to him, just to see him crack up. (“Yeah, I’m going to tell some loser from the audience after the show.”)
Dr. J