Exclusive Portrait: Penn Jillette of ‘Penn & Teller’ on New ‘God, No!’ Book at Chicagoland Appearance

CHICAGO – He is one half of a brand name magic act (“Penn & Teller”), he likes to expose fraud by exclaiming “bullsh*t!” and he’s just written a book about atheism. Penn Jillette – the magician and raconteur – appeared at North Central College on July 7th in Naperville, Ill, on behalf of his book, “God, No! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales”.

Penn Jillette was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and latched onto magic and performing right out of high school, graduating from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in 1974. That same year, he met Raymond Joseph Teller, and after variations on working together, formed Penn & Teller in 1981. Jillette and his partner has built one of the most recognizable magic acts in show business history, with virtually a running show in Las Vegas. In 2003, they expanded their repertoire with the Showtime Network show “Penn & Teller: Bullshit!,” in which they debunked myths, fallacies and urban legends.

Penn Jillette appeared at North Central College in Naperville on July 7th, promoting the paperback version of his book, which was also sponsored by Anderson’s Bookshops. Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com was there to capture this Exclusive Portrait.

He Wants You! Penn Jillette in Naperville, Ill, July 7th, 2012 Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com