Penn Jillette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Penn Jillette
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Jillette at a convention in 2016
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Penn Fraser Jillette
March 5, 1955 |
| Education | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | Half of the comedy magic duo known as Penn & Teller |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Emily Zolten |
| Children | 2 |
Penn Fraser Jillette (born March 5, 1955) is an American magician, comedian, and author. He is famous for being one half of the magic duo Penn & Teller, along with his partner Teller.
Penn & Teller have starred in many stage and TV shows, including Penn & Teller: Fool Us. As of 2025, they have a popular show in Las Vegas at The Rio hotel. In their act, Penn is the one who does most of the talking.
Jillette has also written eight books. He is known for speaking about his beliefs, including atheism (not believing in a god) and scientific skepticism (the idea that claims should be backed by evidence).
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Magic
Jillette was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts. His mother, Valda, was a secretary, and his father, Samuel, worked at a local jail.
In his early teens, Jillette became an atheist after reading the Bible and asking questions about it. He was not a fan of magicians who pretended their tricks were real magic.
When he was 18, he saw a show by the magician James Randi. Jillette loved how Randi was honest that his magic was just a form of entertainment using tricks and deception. Jillette has said that Randi was one of the most important people in his life.
After graduating from high school in 1973, Jillette also graduated from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He started performing a juggling act with a classmate. In 1974, a friend introduced him to Teller. The two of them, along with their friend Weir Chrisemer, formed an act. By 1981, Jillette and Teller were performing as the duo Penn & Teller. Their show became a big success and toured across the country.
Career Highlights
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Besides his work with Teller, Jillette has had a long and varied career. In the 1990s, he was the main voice announcer for the TV channel Comedy Central.
From 1996 to 1997, he had a recurring role on the TV show Sabrina the Teenage Witch as Drell, the head of the Witches' Council.
Famous TV Shows
..... In the show, they investigated different beliefs and cultural trends to see if they were true.
In 2006, Jillette hosted the NBC game show Identity. He has also appeared on reality shows like Dancing with the Stars in 2008 and The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012 and 2013. On The Celebrity Apprentice, he raised over $663,000 for a charity in Las Vegas.
Books and Music
In 2011, Jillette's book ..., No!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales became a New York Times Bestseller.
Jillette also plays the upright bass. He often performs with jazz pianist Mike Jones, who opens for the Penn & Teller show in Las Vegas. In 2018, they released a live jazz album together.
Personal Life
Jillette is married to Emily Jillette, and they have two children, a son named Zolten and a daughter named Moxie.
Why does he paint one fingernail red?
Jillette is known for having the fingernail on his left ring finger painted red. He has given a few reasons for this. One story is that his mother suggested he get a manicure, so he jokingly painted all his nails red.
He has also said it's a great way to distract the audience during a magic trick. Most importantly, he has stated that he wears the red nail polish along with his father's ring to remember and honor his parents.
Health and Diet
In 2014, Jillette had a serious health scare due to high blood pressure. He decided to make a big change. By his birthday in March 2015, he had lost over 100 pounds.
He follows a special diet that focuses on eating plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and beans. He avoids animal products, processed grains, and added sugar or salt.
Beliefs
Jillette is a well-known atheist, which means he does not believe in a god. He is open about his views and thinks it's an important topic to discuss. The license plates on his cars have even read "ATHEIST" and "NOGOD".
He has said that he respects people of faith, especially when they are sincere in their beliefs. He once told a story about a fan who gave him a Bible after a show. Jillette appreciated the gesture because he knew the fan genuinely cared about him.
Politics
For many years, Jillette identified as a libertarian, a political belief that emphasizes personal freedom. He often voted for the Libertarian Party.
However, his views began to change around 2020. He felt that some libertarian ideas, like "rugged individualism," were not helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. He became critical of people who refused to wear masks to protect others.
In 2020, he announced that he no longer considered himself a libertarian and voted for Joe Biden. He has said that he now plans to vote for the Democratic Party.
Selected Appearances
Jillette has appeared in many movies and television shows, both as himself and as an actor.
Film
- Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987)
- Penn & Teller Get Killed (1989)
- Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)
- Hackers (1995)
- Toy Story (1995) – Voice of the Buzz Lightyear TV commercial announcer
- Fantasia 2000 (1999) – As himself
- Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009) - As himself
- Tim's Vermeer (2013) – A documentary he produced
- Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No (2015)
Television
- Miami Vice (1985)
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996–1997)
- Friends (1997)
- The Simpsons (1999, 2011)
- The West Wing (2004)
- Dancing with the Stars (2008)
- Penn & Teller: Fool Us (2011–present)
- Modern Family (2015)
- Black Mirror (2017) - Credited with the story idea for the episode "Black Museum"
- The Masked Singer (2022) - Appeared with Teller as "Hydra"
Video Games
- Borderlands 3 (2019) – Voice of the character Pain
See also
In Spanish: Penn Jillette para niños
