Kal Penn
Encyclopedia
Kalpen Suresh Modi best known by his stage name
Kal Penn, is an American film and television actor, producer, and civil servant.
As an actor, he is known for his roles portraying the character Dr. Lawrence Kutner
on the television program House
and the character Kumar Patel in the Harold and Kumar comedy films. He is also recognized for his performance in the critically acclaimed film The Namesake
. Penn has also taught at the University of Pennsylvania
as a visiting lecturer in the Cinema Studies Program.
On April 8, 2009, it was announced that Penn would join the Obama administration as an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement
. This necessitated that his character Lawrence Kutner
be written out of the TV series House
. Penn resigned his post as Barack Obama's associate director of public engagement on June 1, 2010, for a brief return to his acting career. He filmed the third installment of the Harold and Kumar series, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, then returned to the White House Office of Public Engagement as an Associate Director. In July 2011, he again left the White House, this time for a role in How I Met Your Mother
, and then went back to his political duties.
, the son of Asmita, a fragrance evaluator for a perfume company, and Suresh Modi, an engineer. Both of his parents are Gujarati
immigrants from India
. He has stated that stories of his grandparents marching with Mahatma Gandhi
for India
n independence were a significant influence on his interest in politics.
He attended Marlboro Middle School
in Marlboro Township, New Jersey
and played baritone saxophone
in the jazz band there. Penn attended The Fine and Performing Arts Academy (a magnet program
) at Howell High School for freshman, sophomore, and junior years; he transferred to Freehold Township High School
for senior year; both schools are part of the Freehold Regional High School District
. He was active in the schools' theater productions and competed on the Freehold Township forensics team. He attended UCLA
, where he double majored in film
and sociology
.
. He has since appeared in American Desi
, National Lampoon's Van Wilder
, Malibu's Most Wanted
, A Lot Like Love
, Dude, Where's the Party?
, Love Don't Cost a Thing
, Superman Returns
, National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
, Epic Movie
, The Namesake
, the Harold and Kumar series, and an uncredited appearance in Deck the Halls
. Penn was featured in The Lonely Island
's rejected comedy pilot
, Awesometown.
Penn says that he derived his acting name, Kal Penn, as a lark: "Almost as a joke to prove friends wrong, and half as an attempt to see if what I was told would work (that anglicized names appeal more to a white-dominated industry), I put 'Kal Penn' on my resume and photos." His audition callbacks rose by 50 percent. He has stated that he prefers his birth name and uses "Kal Penn" only for professional purposes.
In January 2007, Penn appeared in the first four episodes of the sixth season of 24
as Ahmed Amar, a teenage terrorist. Penn says he nearly turned down the role due to personal ethics, stating, "I have a huge political problem with the role. It was essentially accepting a form of racial profiling
. I think it’s repulsive. But it was the first time I had a chance to blow stuff up and take a family hostage. As an actor, why shouldn’t I have that opportunity? Because I'm brown and I should be scared about the connection between media images and people's thought processes?"
Also in January 2007, he appeared in the spoof comedy Epic Movie
as well as the television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
. In May 2007, Penn received the Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Actor for his performance in The Namesake
.
In fall 2007, Penn joined the cast of the Fox
medical drama House
as a fellowship applicant. E!
reported that Penn had signed on as a regular on the show along with Olivia Wilde
and Peter Jacobson
and this was confirmed in the plot of the episode "Games". Penn continued with the series through to the episode "Simple Explanation
", which aired April 6, 2009. He made an additional appearance as Lawrence Kutner
on the fifth season finale, "Both Sides Now
", that aired on May 11, 2009. However, due to his new job at the White House, Penn could not be present for the filming of this episode. The clip of him saying "Too bad it isn't true" was taken from a previous filming.
Beside his role on the T.V. series House
, he is best known from his role in Harold & Kumar
, Kumar Patel, a cannabis smoker who goes with Harold Lee (John Cho
) to White Castle
for a hamburger. Unlike his character,he does not smoke marijuana, claiming it is not for him.
On July 13, 2011, it was announced on Facebook
that Penn would be joining the cast of How I Met Your Mother
for the seventh season of the show.
Penn was an advocate for Barack Obama
's presidential campaign
in 2007 and 2008 and a member of Obama's National Arts Policy Committee. He appears in the Barack Obama
-supporting video "Sí Se Puede Cambiar
" by Andres Useche
and appeared with comedian George Lopez
on January 18, 2009, at "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
".
In early 2009, Penn was offered the position of Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
in the Obama administration, which he accepted. This necessitated his character Lawrence Kutner being written out of the TV series House. In his new role with the Obama administration, Modi served as a liaison with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. He had gone back to using his birth name, Kalpen Modi.
Having made a commitment before his employment at the White House, Penn amicably left his post as Barack Obama's associate director of public engagement on June 1, 2010 to return to his acting career. He returned to office on November 15, 2010, following completion of A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.
. His course was entitled, "Images of Asian Americans in the Media."
Penn is currently working on a graduate certificate in international security
from Stanford University
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Kal Penn, is an American film and television actor, producer, and civil servant.
As an actor, he is known for his roles portraying the character Dr. Lawrence Kutner
Lawrence Kutner (House)
Lawrence Kutner M.D. is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Kal Penn. He becomes a member of House's new diagnostic team in "Games", the ninth episode of the fourth season...
on the television program House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
and the character Kumar Patel in the Harold and Kumar comedy films. He is also recognized for his performance in the critically acclaimed film The Namesake
The Namesake (film)
The Namesake is a 2006 film which was released in the United States on March 9, 2007, following screenings at film festivals in Toronto and New York City. It was directed by Mira Nair and is based upon the novel of the same name by Jhumpa Lahiri, who appeared in the movie. Sooni Taraporevala...
. Penn has also taught at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
as a visiting lecturer in the Cinema Studies Program.
On April 8, 2009, it was announced that Penn would join the Obama administration as an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement
White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs is a unit of the White House Office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States...
. This necessitated that his character Lawrence Kutner
Lawrence Kutner (House)
Lawrence Kutner M.D. is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Kal Penn. He becomes a member of House's new diagnostic team in "Games", the ninth episode of the fourth season...
be written out of the TV series House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
. Penn resigned his post as Barack Obama's associate director of public engagement on June 1, 2010, for a brief return to his acting career. He filmed the third installment of the Harold and Kumar series, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, then returned to the White House Office of Public Engagement as an Associate Director. In July 2011, he again left the White House, this time for a role in How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
, and then went back to his political duties.
Early life and education
Penn was born as Kalpen Suresh Modi in Montclair, New JerseyMontclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, the son of Asmita, a fragrance evaluator for a perfume company, and Suresh Modi, an engineer. Both of his parents are Gujarati
Gujarati people
Gujarati people , or Gujaratis are an ethnic group that is traditionally Gujarati-speaking and can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in western India...
immigrants from India
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
. He has stated that stories of his grandparents marching with Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n independence were a significant influence on his interest in politics.
He attended Marlboro Middle School
Marlboro Middle School
Marlboro Middle School is a middle school located in Marlboro Township, New Jersey, as part of the Marlboro Public Schools, and goes from sixth grade through eighth....
in Marlboro Township, New Jersey
Marlboro Township, New Jersey
-Weather:Marlboro is located close to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the location Marlboro Township has on the Eastern Seaboard, the following weather features are noted:*On average, the warmest month is July where the average high is and the average low is ....
and played baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
in the jazz band there. Penn attended The Fine and Performing Arts Academy (a magnet program
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
) at Howell High School for freshman, sophomore, and junior years; he transferred to Freehold Township High School
Freehold Township High School
Freehold Township High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located within Freehold Township, New Jersey, and is part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The school serves students from portions of Freehold Township, and from parts of both Howell Township and Manalapan...
for senior year; both schools are part of the Freehold Regional High School District
Freehold Regional High School District
The Freehold Regional High School District is a public regional school district serving students in grades 9-12 from eight communities in western Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The district, consisting of six high schools, is the largest regional high school district in the state of...
. He was active in the schools' theater productions and competed on the Freehold Township forensics team. He attended UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he double majored in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Acting career
Penn's feature film debut came in 1998 in Express: Aisle to GloryExpress: Aisle to Glory
Express: Aisle to Glory is a 1998 comedy short film written and directed by Jonathan Buss and notable as the film debut of the actor Kal Penn....
. He has since appeared in American Desi
American Desi
American Desi is a 2001 American film with Indian influence, notable for featuring many prominent South Asian American actors. Also featured is an a cappella version of the Hindi classic "Aap Jaisa Koi", sung by Penn Masala and originally from the movie Qurbani...
, National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder is a 2002 comedy film directed by Walt Becker that stars Ryan Reynolds as the main character. The film also stars Kal Penn, Tara Reid, and Daniel Cosgrove. It features Sophia Bush's acting debut...
, Malibu's Most Wanted
Malibu's Most Wanted
Malibu's Most Wanted is a 2003 comedic feature film written by and starring Jamie Kennedy and co-starring Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, and Regina Hall....
, A Lot Like Love
A Lot Like Love
A Lot Like Love is a 2005 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Nigel Cole. The screenplay by Colin Patrick Lynch focuses on two individuals whose relationship slowly evolves from lust to friendship to romance over the course of seven years...
, Dude, Where's the Party?
Dude, Where's the Party?
Dude, Where's the Party? aka Where's the party yaar? is a 2003 film directed by Benny Mathews. It stars Kal Penn and Sunil Malhotra. It is a comedic film that focuses mainly on the Indian American experience.-Plot:Harishkumar S...
, Love Don't Cost a Thing
Love Don't Cost a Thing (film)
Love Don't Cost a Thing, stylized as Love Don't Co$t a Thing, is a 2003 teen comedy film written and directed by Troy Beyer and starring Nick Cannon and Christina Milian It also stars Steve Harvey, Kenan Thompson and Kal Penn...
, Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
, National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj is a 2006 sequel to the 2002 comedy National Lampoon's Van Wilder starring Kal Penn. Despite the film's title, lead actor Ryan Reynolds does not return in his role as Van Wilder.- Plot :...
, Epic Movie
Epic Movie
Epic Movie is a 2007 American parody film directed and written by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Paul Schiff. It was made in a similar style to Date Movie, Friedberg and Seltzer's previous film. The film mostly references The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the...
, The Namesake
The Namesake (film)
The Namesake is a 2006 film which was released in the United States on March 9, 2007, following screenings at film festivals in Toronto and New York City. It was directed by Mira Nair and is based upon the novel of the same name by Jhumpa Lahiri, who appeared in the movie. Sooni Taraporevala...
, the Harold and Kumar series, and an uncredited appearance in Deck the Halls
Deck the Halls (film)
Deck the Halls is a 2006 family comedy film set during the Christmas season in Massachusetts. It stars Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Davis, and Kristin Chenoweth and is directed by John Whitesell.- Plot :...
. Penn was featured in The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island is an American comedy troupe composed of Akiva "Kiv" Schaffer, Jorma "Jorm" Taccone, and David Andrew "Andy" Samberg, best known for their comedic music. Originally from Berkeley, California, the group is currently based in New York City. The group broke out due to their...
's rejected comedy pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
, Awesometown.
Penn says that he derived his acting name, Kal Penn, as a lark: "Almost as a joke to prove friends wrong, and half as an attempt to see if what I was told would work (that anglicized names appeal more to a white-dominated industry), I put 'Kal Penn' on my resume and photos." His audition callbacks rose by 50 percent. He has stated that he prefers his birth name and uses "Kal Penn" only for professional purposes.
In January 2007, Penn appeared in the first four episodes of the sixth season of 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
as Ahmed Amar, a teenage terrorist. Penn says he nearly turned down the role due to personal ethics, stating, "I have a huge political problem with the role. It was essentially accepting a form of racial profiling
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
. I think it’s repulsive. But it was the first time I had a chance to blow stuff up and take a family hostage. As an actor, why shouldn’t I have that opportunity? Because I'm brown and I should be scared about the connection between media images and people's thought processes?"
Also in January 2007, he appeared in the spoof comedy Epic Movie
Epic Movie
Epic Movie is a 2007 American parody film directed and written by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Paul Schiff. It was made in a similar style to Date Movie, Friedberg and Seltzer's previous film. The film mostly references The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the...
as well as the television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
. In May 2007, Penn received the Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Actor for his performance in The Namesake
The Namesake (film)
The Namesake is a 2006 film which was released in the United States on March 9, 2007, following screenings at film festivals in Toronto and New York City. It was directed by Mira Nair and is based upon the novel of the same name by Jhumpa Lahiri, who appeared in the movie. Sooni Taraporevala...
.
In fall 2007, Penn joined the cast of the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
medical drama House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
as a fellowship applicant. E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
reported that Penn had signed on as a regular on the show along with Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is an American actress and fashion model. She began acting in the early 2000s, and has since appeared in a number of film and television parts, including roles in the serial-drama The O.C. and The Black Donnellys. She portrayed Dr...
and Peter Jacobson
Peter Jacobson
Peter S. Jacobson is an American film and television actor.-Life and career:Jacobson was born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Chicago news anchor Walter Jacobson. He is a graduate of Brown University and Juilliard...
and this was confirmed in the plot of the episode "Games". Penn continued with the series through to the episode "Simple Explanation
Simple Explanation
"Simple Explanation" is the 20th episode of the fifth season of House. It first aired on April 6, 2009.-Plot summary:As Eddie Novack lies on his deathbed, his wife Charlotte is stricken with respiratory failure. The team takes Charlotte's case and wheels Eddie into her room, as he seems to gain...
", which aired April 6, 2009. He made an additional appearance as Lawrence Kutner
Lawrence Kutner (House)
Lawrence Kutner M.D. is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Kal Penn. He becomes a member of House's new diagnostic team in "Games", the ninth episode of the fourth season...
on the fifth season finale, "Both Sides Now
Both Sides Now (House)
"Both Sides Now" is the twenty-fourth episode and season finale of the fifth season of House. It originally aired on May 11, 2009.-Plot:...
", that aired on May 11, 2009. However, due to his new job at the White House, Penn could not be present for the filming of this episode. The clip of him saying "Too bad it isn't true" was taken from a previous filming.
Beside his role on the T.V. series House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, he is best known from his role in Harold & Kumar
Harold & Kumar
Harold & Kumar is the common name for a series of stoner comedy films starring John Cho and Kal Penn . The first film, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, was released on July 30, 2004 by New Line Cinema and spawned a sequel titled Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, released four years...
, Kumar Patel, a cannabis smoker who goes with Harold Lee (John Cho
John Cho
John Yohan Cho is an American actor and musician, best known for his roles in the American Pie films and the Harold & Kumar films . He also starred in the critically acclaimed hit film Better Luck Tomorrow...
) to White Castle
White Castle (restaurant)
White Castle is an American regional fast food hamburger restaurant chain in the Midwestern United States and in the New York metropolitan area, and the first of its kind in the US. It is known for its small, square hamburgers. Sometimes referred to as "sliders", the burgers were priced at five...
for a hamburger. Unlike his character,he does not smoke marijuana, claiming it is not for him.
On July 13, 2011, it was announced on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
that Penn would be joining the cast of How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
for the seventh season of the show.
Political interests
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's presidential campaign
Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008
Barack Obama, then junior United States Senator from Illinois, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007. On August 27, 2008, he was declared nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 presidential election...
in 2007 and 2008 and a member of Obama's National Arts Policy Committee. He appears in the Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
-supporting video "Sí Se Puede Cambiar
Sí Se Puede Cambiar
"Sí, Se Puede Cambiar" is a song and music video created in support of Sen. Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. However, the video has no official ties to the Obama campaign. The song was written by Andres Useche...
" by Andres Useche
Andres Useche
Andrés Useche is an award-winning writer, film director, graphic artist and singer/songwriter.-Early life:...
and appeared with comedian George Lopez
George Lopez
George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture...
on January 18, 2009, at "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial was a public celebration of the then forthcoming inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States at the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 2009. By some estimates the...
".
In early 2009, Penn was offered the position of Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs is a unit of the White House Office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States...
in the Obama administration, which he accepted. This necessitated his character Lawrence Kutner being written out of the TV series House. In his new role with the Obama administration, Modi served as a liaison with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. He had gone back to using his birth name, Kalpen Modi.
Having made a commitment before his employment at the White House, Penn amicably left his post as Barack Obama's associate director of public engagement on June 1, 2010 to return to his acting career. He returned to office on November 15, 2010, following completion of A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.
Other activities
In 2008, Penn served as a visiting lecturer in Asian American Studies at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. His course was entitled, "Images of Asian Americans in the Media."
Penn is currently working on a graduate certificate in international security
International security
International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Express: Aisle to Glory Express: Aisle to Glory Express: Aisle to Glory is a 1998 comedy short film written and directed by Jonathan Buss and notable as the film debut of the actor Kal Penn.... |
Jackie Newton | |
| 1999 | Freshman | Ajay | |
| 2001 | American Desi American Desi American Desi is a 2001 American film with Indian influence, notable for featuring many prominent South Asian American actors. Also featured is an a cappella version of the Hindi classic "Aap Jaisa Koi", sung by Penn Masala and originally from the movie Qurbani... |
Ajay Pandya | |
| 2002 | Hector Hector In Greek mythology, Hectōr , or Hektōr, is a Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War. As the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, a descendant of Dardanus, who lived under Mount Ida, and of Tros, the founder of Troy, he was a prince of the royal house and the... |
Kendal Cunningham | |
| National Lampoon's Van Wilder National Lampoon's Van Wilder National Lampoon's Van Wilder is a 2002 comedy film directed by Walt Becker that stars Ryan Reynolds as the main character. The film also stars Kal Penn, Tara Reid, and Daniel Cosgrove. It features Sophia Bush's acting debut... |
Taj Badalandabad | ||
| Badger Badger Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae... |
Sanjay | ||
| 2003 | Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan (film) Cosmopolitan is a 2003 American independent film starring Roshan Seth and Carol Kane, and directed by Nisha Ganatra. The film, based on an acclaimed short story by Akhil Sharma and written by screenwriter Sabrina Dhawan , is a cross-cultural romance between a confused and lonely middle-aged East... |
Vandana's fiancé | |
| Love Don't Cost a Thing Love Don't Cost a Thing (film) Love Don't Cost a Thing, stylized as Love Don't Co$t a Thing, is a 2003 teen comedy film written and directed by Troy Beyer and starring Nick Cannon and Christina Milian It also stars Steve Harvey, Kenan Thompson and Kal Penn... |
Kenneth Warman | ||
| Malibu's Most Wanted Malibu's Most Wanted Malibu's Most Wanted is a 2003 comedic feature film written by and starring Jamie Kennedy and co-starring Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, and Regina Hall.... |
Hadji | ||
| Dude, Where's the Party? Dude, Where's the Party? Dude, Where's the Party? aka Where's the party yaar? is a 2003 film directed by Benny Mathews. It stars Kal Penn and Sunil Malhotra. It is a comedic film that focuses mainly on the Indian American experience.-Plot:Harishkumar S... |
Mo (Mohan Bakshi) | ||
| 2004 | Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is a 2004 American stoner film and the first installment in the Harold & Kumar series... |
Kumar Patel | |
| Ball & Chain Ball & Chain Ball & Chain is a 2004 romantic comedy written by Thomas Mortimer. It was directed by Shiraz Jafri and produced by A. V. T. Shankardass. It stars Sunil Malhotra, Lisa Ray, Kal Penn, Purva Bedi and Asrani. It was filmed on location in Austin, Texas... |
Bobby | ||
| 2005 | Dancing in Twilight | Sam | |
| Son of the Mask Son of the Mask Son of the Mask is a 2005 American fantasy family-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman, starring Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist from Fringe City who has just had his first child born with the powers of the Mask. It is the stand-alone sequel to the successful 1994 film The... |
Jorge | ||
| A Lot Like Love A Lot Like Love A Lot Like Love is a 2005 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Nigel Cole. The screenplay by Colin Patrick Lynch focuses on two individuals whose relationship slowly evolves from lust to friendship to romance over the course of seven years... |
Jeeter | ||
| Sueño Sueño Sueño is a 2005 comedy-drama film directed by Renée Chabria that stars John Leguizamo, Ana Claudia Talancón, and Elizabeth Peña.-Cast:* John Leguizamo - Antonio* Ana Claudia Talancón - Nina* Elizabeth Peña - Mirabela* Nestor Serrano - El Zorro... |
Raj | ||
| 2006 | Man About Town | Alan Fineberg | Direct-to-video |
| Bachelor Party Vegas Bachelor Party Vegas Bachelor Party Vegas is a comedy film that was released in 2006 starring Kal Penn, Jonathan Bennett, Charlie Spiller, Diora Baird and Donald Faison... |
Z-Bob | ||
| Superman Returns Superman Returns Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars... |
Stanford | ||
| Deck The Halls Deck the Halls (film) Deck the Halls is a 2006 family comedy film set during the Christmas season in Massachusetts. It stars Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Davis, and Kristin Chenoweth and is directed by John Whitesell.- Plot :... |
Amit Sayid | ||
| National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj is a 2006 sequel to the 2002 comedy National Lampoon's Van Wilder starring Kal Penn. Despite the film's title, lead actor Ryan Reynolds does not return in his role as Van Wilder.- Plot :... |
Taj Badalandabad | ||
| 2007 | The Namesake The Namesake (film) The Namesake is a 2006 film which was released in the United States on March 9, 2007, following screenings at film festivals in Toronto and New York City. It was directed by Mira Nair and is based upon the novel of the same name by Jhumpa Lahiri, who appeared in the movie. Sooni Taraporevala... |
Gogol/Nikhil Ganguli | |
| Epic Movie Epic Movie Epic Movie is a 2007 American parody film directed and written by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Paul Schiff. It was made in a similar style to Date Movie, Friedberg and Seltzer's previous film. The film mostly references The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the... |
Edward | ||
| 2008 | Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay | Kumar Patel | |
| Under New Management | Wheeler | ||
| 2010 | Bhopal: Prayer for Rain Bhopal: Prayer for Rain Bhopal: Prayer for Rain is an upcoming historical-drama film set amidst the real-life Bhopal disaster that had occurred in India on December 2-3, 1984. Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton, Kal Penn, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Rajpal Yadav have been cast in the lead roles. The director, Ravi Kumar described... |
TBA | |
| 2011 | A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas | Kumar Patel | |
Television roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Brookfield | Kumar Zimmerman | |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer Beer Bad (Buffy episode) "Beer Bad" is episode 5 of the fourth season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is written by Tracey Forbes and directed by David Solomon. It was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling in a Series.- Plot synopsis :... |
Hunt | ||
| 2000 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Prajeeb | |
| Spin City | Buddy | ||
| 2001 | Angel That Vision Thing (Angel episode) "That Vision Thing" is the second episode of season 3 in the television show Angel. Written by Jeffrey Bell and directed by Bill L Norton, it was originally broadcast on October 1, 2001 on the WB network. In "That Vision Thing", Cordelia's vision gift grows dangerous when it begins physically... |
Fez Boy | |
| ER | Narajan | ||
| NYPD Blue NYPD Blue NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan... |
Solomon Al-Ramai | ||
| The Agency | Malek | ||
| 2003 | All About the Andersons All About the Andersons All About the Andersons is a situation comedy that originally aired on The WB Television Network from September 12, 2003 to February 12, 2004. It lasted one season before being canceled.-Premise:... |
Dinesh | |
| Tru Calling (Haunted) Tru Calling Tru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled.... |
Steven | ||
| 2004 | Homeland Security | Harrison | |
| 2006 | The Danny Comden Project | Max | |
| 2007 | Law and Order: Special Victims Unit | Henry Chanoor | |
| 24 24 (TV series) 24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration... |
Ahmed Amar | Recurring Season 6 | |
| 2007–2009 | House, M.D. House (TV series) House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in... |
Dr. Lawrence Kutner | Main cast Seasons 4–5: 36 Episodes |
| 2011 | How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting... |
Kevin | Season 7 |
External links
- Kal Penn at Whitehouse.govWhitehouse.govWhitehouse.gov is the official website of the White House and is owned by the United States government. Launched in October 1994, it contains general American history information, as well as current news pertaining to the President, press briefings, proclamations, executive orders, and any speeches...