Kal Penn

Kal Penn

Acting
Born 1977-04-23Montclair, New Jersey, USA

Biography

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

Movies (53)

Smile
6.7

Smile

2022Movie6.7
Superman Returns
5.8

Superman Returns

2006Movie5.8
Son of the Mask
4.2

Son of the Mask

2005Movie4.2
Once Upon a Time in Venice
5.2

Once Upon a Time in Venice

2017Movie5.2
Epic Movie
3.9

Epic Movie

2007Movie3.9
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
6.0

National Lampoon's Van Wilder

2002Movie6.0
Love Don't Co$t a Thing
7.7

Love Don't Co$t a Thing

2003Movie7.7
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
6.6

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

2004Movie6.6
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
6.0

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

2011Movie6.0
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
6.3

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

2008Movie6.3
The Layover
5.4

The Layover

2017Movie5.4
The Underdoggs
7.0

The Underdoggs

2024Movie7.0
A Lot Like Love
6.8

A Lot Like Love

2005Movie6.8
Deck the Halls
5.6

Deck the Halls

2006Movie5.6
Man About Town
5.2

Man About Town

2006Movie5.2
Malibu's Most Wanted
5.4

Malibu's Most Wanted

2003Movie5.4
Emily & Tim
5.6

Emily & Tim

2015Movie5.6
Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj
5.1

Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj

2006Movie5.1
The Girl in the Photographs
4.9

The Girl in the Photographs

2015Movie4.9
The Sisterhood of Night
6.2

The Sisterhood of Night

2015Movie6.2
Trust Me, I'm a Doctor

Trust Me, I'm a Doctor

2026Movie
The Namesake
6.8

The Namesake

2006Movie6.8
The Problem with Apu
4.8

The Problem with Apu

2017Movie4.8
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
4.6

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

2009Movie4.6
Awesometown
7.4

Awesometown

2006Movie7.4
Bachelor Party Vegas
4.9

Bachelor Party Vegas

2006Movie4.9
Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong
6.0

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong

2023Movie6.0
American Desi
5.9

American Desi

2001Movie5.9
Cosmopolitan
7.5

Cosmopolitan

2003Movie7.5
Speech & Debate
5.9

Speech & Debate

2017Movie5.9
Homeland Security
4.8

Homeland Security

2004Movie4.8
Sueno
4.5

Sueno

2005Movie4.5
Untitled Horror Movie
4.4

Untitled Horror Movie

2021Movie4.4
Freshmen
5.0

Freshmen

1999Movie5.0
Ball and Chain
6.3

Ball and Chain

2004Movie6.3
The Ashram
5.4

The Ashram

2018Movie5.4
Hot Mess Holiday
6.0

Hot Mess Holiday

2021Movie6.0
Better Off Single
5.0

Better Off Single

2016Movie5.0
Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam
6.5

Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam

2008Movie6.5
Regarding Ardy

Regarding Ardy

2003Movie
Where's the Party Yaar?
4.9

Where's the Party Yaar?

2003Movie4.9
Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers

Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers

2021Movie
Patel

Patel

Movie
Dementamania
4.4

Dementamania

2013Movie4.4
A Prayer for Rain
6.3

A Prayer for Rain

2014Movie6.3
Untitled Harold & Kumar Sequel

Untitled Harold & Kumar Sequel

Movie
Contra

Contra

Movie
Brookfield
4.0

Brookfield

Movie4.0
What the F*ck Is My Password?!

What the F*ck Is My Password?!

Movie
The Girl in the Woods
6.6

The Girl in the Woods

2020Movie6.6
Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz
7.0

Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz

2011Movie7.0
Dancing in Twilight
3.8

Dancing in Twilight

2005Movie3.8
Express: Aisle to Glory
9.0

Express: Aisle to Glory

1998Movie9.0

TV Shows (58)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
8.0

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999Series8.0
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
6.1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015Series6.1
Sesame Street
7.1

Sesame Street

1969Series7.1
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
House
8.6

House

2004Series8.6
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
24
7.8

24

2001Series7.8
The Late Late Show with James Corden
5.1

The Late Late Show with James Corden

2015Series5.1
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
8.1

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

1997Series8.1
American Horror Story
8.1

American Horror Story

2011Series8.1
How I Met Your Mother
8.1

How I Met Your Mother

2005Series8.1
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
6.8

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005Series6.8
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
5.3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003Series5.3
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
5.6

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988Series5.6
New Girl
7.4

New Girl

2011Series7.4
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
ER
7.8

ER

1994Series7.8
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
7.8

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

1996Series7.8
The Big Bang Theory
7.9

The Big Bang Theory

2007Series7.9
CBS News Sunday Morning
6.8

CBS News Sunday Morning

1979Series6.8
Angel
7.9

Angel

1999Series7.9
Designated Survivor
7.2

Designated Survivor

2016Series7.2
Impractical Jokers
8.0

Impractical Jokers

2011Series8.0
Spin City
7.0

Spin City

1996Series7.0
Tamron Hall
4.5

Tamron Hall

2019Series4.5
Industry
6.8

Industry

2020Series6.8
The Soup
6.3

The Soup

2004Series6.3
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
3.4

A Little Late with Lilly Singh

2019Series3.4
Finding Your Roots
6.5

Finding Your Roots

2012Series6.5
Independent Lens
6.6

Independent Lens

1999Series6.6
Tru Calling
7.3

Tru Calling

2003Series7.3
To Tell the Truth
5.8

To Tell the Truth

2016Series5.8
Name That Tune
6.9

Name That Tune

2021Series6.9
Match Game
6.4

Match Game

2016Series6.4
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
7.1

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

2021Series7.1
The $100,000 Pyramid
7.0

The $100,000 Pyramid

2016Series7.0
Hollywood Game Night
6.5

Hollywood Game Night

2013Series6.5
The Agency
6.9

The Agency

2001Series6.9
Celebrity Weakest Link
5.0

Celebrity Weakest Link

2025Series5.0
Fancy Nancy
8.0

Fancy Nancy

2018Series8.0
Clarice
6.9

Clarice

2021Series6.9
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
7.9

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

2023Series7.9
Mira, Royal Detective
6.5

Mira, Royal Detective

2020Series6.5
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
9.9

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

2020Series9.9
Top Gear
6.1

Top Gear

2010Series6.1
The Santa Clauses
7.1

The Santa Clauses

2022Series7.1
Battle Creek
7.0

Battle Creek

2015Series7.0
Deadbeat
6.6

Deadbeat

2014Series6.6
Sunnyside
5.2

Sunnyside

2019Series5.2
We Are Men
5.5

We Are Men

2013Series5.5
All About the Andersons
8.3

All About the Andersons

2003Series8.3
Superhuman
4.0

Superhuman

2017Series4.0
The Big Picture with Kal Penn
8.0

The Big Picture with Kal Penn

2015Series8.0
The Big Brain Theory
8.3

The Big Brain Theory

2013Series8.3
Kal Penn Approves This Message
7.0

Kal Penn Approves This Message

2020Series7.0