Profile Text
Teller in 2015, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Raymond Joseph Teller
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 14, 1948
Ethnicity: * father – Ashkenazi Jewish * mother – English, distant French Huguenot, Dutch, and Scottish
Teller is an American magician, illusionist, writer, actor, painter, and film director. He forms magician duo Penn & Teller , together with Penn Jillette .
Teller is the son of Irene and Joe Teller (born Israel Max Teller). His father was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents from the Russian Empire, and grew up in Philadelphia. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and had English, as well as distant French Huguenot, Dutch, and Scottish, ancestry. He was raised somewhat in his mother’s Methodist faith.
On season 4, episode 7, of the documentary series Penn & Teller: Bullshit! , which aired on May 15, 2006, Penn stated, “His (Teller’s) mother’s side had some Cuban and his father’s side was Russian Jew(ish) who never even mentioned their history ’til Teller was fifty years old.”
There appears to be no Cuban ancestry on Teller’s mother’s side. It is not clear if Penn was speaking facetiously or seriously.
Teller’s paternal grandfather was named Joseph Teller. Joseph was born in Mogilev, Belarus.
Teller’s paternal grandmother was named Esther Levin/Levine.
Teller’s maternal grandfather was James Herschel Derrickson (the son of James W. Derrickson and Clementine Ann Aydelotte). Teller’s grandfather James was born in Delaware. Clementine was the daughter of David Henry Aydelotte and Lovey Townsend.
Teller’s maternal grandmother was Beatrice B. Baker (the daughter of Joseph R. Baker and Annie Prosser). Beatrice was born in Pennsylvania. The surname Prosser appear to be Welsh.
Sources: Teller’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Teller’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Teller’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org Teller’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org