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Kal Penn

Kal Penn

Acting

Born: April 23, 1977Montclair, New Jersey, USA

Kalpen Suresh Modi (born April 23, 1977) is an American actor, author, comedian, and former White House staff member in the Obama administration. He is best known for his role as Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar movie franchise. He is also known for his roles as Lawrence Kutner on the television program House, White House staffer Seth Wright on Designated Survivor, Kevin in How I Met Your Mother and Nikhil Ganguli in the film The Namesake (2006). In early 2009, Penn was offered the position of Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, which he accepted, necessitating his character Lawrence Kutner being written out of the TV series House. In 2020, Penn wrote a memoir called "You Can't Be Serious". While promoting this memoir, Penn announced that he and his boyfriend of 11 years, named Josh, were engaged

Known For
Filmography
The Underdoggs

The Underdoggs

Ryan Kauffman

2024
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong

Self

2023
Smile

Smile

Dr. Morgan Desai

2022
Hot Mess Holiday

Hot Mess Holiday

Kal Penn

2021
Untitled Horror Movie

Untitled Horror Movie

Mark

2021
Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers

Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers

Self

2021
The Girl in the Woods

The Girl in the Woods

2020
The Ashram

The Ashram

Nitin

2018
The Problem with Apu

The Problem with Apu

Self

2017
The Layover

The Layover

Anuj

2017
Once Upon a Time in Venice

Once Upon a Time in Venice

Rajeesh

2017
Speech & Debate

Speech & Debate

James

2017
Better Off Single

Better Off Single

Brice

2016
The Girl in the Photographs

The Girl in the Photographs

Peter Hemmings

2015
Emily & Tim

Emily & Tim

Tim (Segment 2)

2015
The Sisterhood of Night

The Sisterhood of Night

Gordy Gambhir

2015
A Prayer for Rain

A Prayer for Rain

Motwani

2014
Dementamania

Dementamania

2013
Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz

Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz

Kumar Patel

2011
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Kumar Patel

2011
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

Self

2009
Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam

Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam

Kumar

2008
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Kumar Patel

2008
Epic Movie

Epic Movie

Edward

2007
Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj

Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj

Taj Mahal Badalandabad

2006
Deck the Halls

Deck the Halls

Amit Sayid (uncredited)

2006
The Namesake

The Namesake

Gogol / Nikhil

2006
Superman Returns

Superman Returns

Stanford

2006
Man About Town

Man About Town

Alan Fineberg

2006
Bachelor Party Vegas

Bachelor Party Vegas

Z-Bob

2006
Awesometown

Awesometown

Guy Reading Newspaper

2006
Sueno

Sueno

Raj

2005
A Lot Like Love

A Lot Like Love

Jeeter

2005
Son of the Mask

Son of the Mask

Jorge

2005
Dancing in Twilight

Dancing in Twilight

Sam

2005
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

Kumar Patel

2004
Ball and Chain

Ball and Chain

Bobby

2004
Homeland Security

Homeland Security

Harrison

2004
Love Don't Co$t a Thing

Love Don't Co$t a Thing

Kenneth Warman

2003
Where's the Party Yaar?

Where's the Party Yaar?

Mo

2003
Malibu's Most Wanted

Malibu's Most Wanted

Hadji

2003
Regarding Ardy

Regarding Ardy

Fred

2003

Cosmopolitan

Vandana's Fiancee

2003
National Lampoon's Van Wilder

National Lampoon's Van Wilder

Taj Mahal Badalandabad

2002
American Desi

American Desi

Ajay Pandya

2001
Freshmen

Freshmen

Ajay

1999
Express: Aisle to Glory

Express: Aisle to Glory

Jackie Newton

1998