Penn Jillette

Penn Fraser Jillette , better known mononymously by his stage name of just Penn, is an American magician, juggler, comedian, musician, inventor, actor, and bestselling author known for his work with fellow magician Teller as half of the team Penn amp Teller. He is also known for his advocacy of atheism, scientific skepticism, libertarianism and freemarket capitalism.

Jillette was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts. His mother, Valda R. Jillette , was a secretary, and his father, Samuel Herbert Jillette , worked at Greenfields Franklin County Jail. Jillette became an atheist in his early teens after reading the Bible and was subsequently asked to leave the church after asking questions in a youth group that also made skeptics of his peers. Jillette became disenchanted with traditional illusionist acts that presented the craft as authentic magic, such as The Amazing Kreskin on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. At age eighteen, he saw a show by illusionist James Randi, and became enamored of his approach to magic that openly acknowledged deception as entertainment rather than a mysterious supernatural power. Jillette regularly acknowledges Randi as the one person on the planet he loves the most besides members of his family.

Source: Wikipedia