Why does Teller from Penn and Teller not talk?

Answer 1

Yes. Teller started his career in magic as a performing for college students, they were very boisterous and he found that by remaining silent himself they settled down. This became part of his routine and when he formed a duo with Penn they decided he should stick with it.

When he is off camera he is said to be very talkative but stays silent on television (even during interviews).

Answer 2

I think it's a play on words, Penn is the so called ''Teller'' and Teller is the one who always uses the ''Penn'' to write.

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It is an affectation of the act, and stems from Teller's earliest days as a magician, when he found that it made the audience concentrate more on his performance. It also highlights the distinction between Teller and the brash persona of Penn Jillette.

Answer 3

It is part of their act - Teller is completely capable of speaking and he does so in his normal life, but on stage and during interviews, it is part of the act that he never speaks.