Kal Penn

Kal Penn

ActingBorn Apr 23, 1977

Montclair, 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

2025Celebrity Weakest Linkas Self - Contestanttv2024The Underdoggsas Ryan Kauffmanmovie2023Scott Pilgrim Takes Offas Ventakish (voice)tv2023Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalongas Selfmovie2022The Santa Clausesas Simon Choksitv2022Smileas Dr. Morgan Desaimovie2021Hot Mess Holidayas Kal Pennmovie2021Untitled Horror Movieas Markmovie2021Clariceas Shaan Tripathitv2021Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producersas Selfmovie2021Celebrity Wheel of Fortuneas Self - Contestanttv2021Name That Tuneas Self - Contestanttv2020Industryas Jay 'Jonah' Atterburytv2020Kal Penn Approves This Messageas Self - Hosttv2020The Girl in the Woodsmovie2020Who Wants to Be a Millionaireas Self - Contestanttv2020Mira, Royal Detectiveas Mikku (voice)tv2019Sunnysideas Creatortv2019A Little Late with Lilly Singhas Selftv2019Tamron Hallas Self - Guesttv2019The Kelly Clarkson Showas Self - Guest Hosttv2018Fancy Nancyas Mr. Singh (voice)tv2018The Ashramas Nitinmovie2017The Problem with Apuas Selfmovie2017The Layoveras Anujmovie2017Superhumanas Self - Hosttv2017Once Upon a Time in Veniceas Rajeeshmovie2017Speech & Debateas Jamesmovie2016Better Off Singleas Bricemovie2016Designated Survivoras Seth Wrighttv2016The $100,000 Pyramidas Selftv2016Match Gameas Self - Panelisttv2016To Tell the Truthas Self - Panelisttv2015The Girl in the Photographsas Peter Hemmingsmovie2015The Late Show with Stephen Colberttv2015Emily & Timas Tim (Segment 2)movie2015The Sisterhood of Nightas Gordy Gambhirmovie2015The Big Picture with Kal Pennas Himself - Hosttv2015The Late Late Show with James Cordenas Self - Guesttv2015Battle Creekas Detective Fontanelletv2014A Prayer for Rainas Motwanimovie2014Deadbeatas Clydetv2014Late Night with Seth Meyersas Selftv2013We Are Menas Gil Bartistv2013Dementamaniamovie2013Hollywood Game Nightas Selftv2013The Big Brain Theoryas Self - Hosttv2012Finding Your Rootsas Selftv2011Impractical Jokersas Selftv2011A Very Harold & Kumar Christmasas Kumar Patelmovie2011Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamzas Kumar Patelmovie2011American Horror Storyas Mac Marzaratv2011New Girlas Tripptv2010Top Geartv2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guesttv2009We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorialas Selfmovie2008Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdamas Kumarmovie2008Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bayas Kumar Patelmovie2007The Big Bang Theoryas Kevin Campbelltv2007Epic Movieas Edwardmovie2006Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Tajas Executive Producermovie2006Deck the Hallsas Amit Sayid (uncredited)movie2006The Namesakeas Gogol / Nikhilmovie2006Superman Returnsas Stanfordmovie2006Man About Townas Alan Finebergmovie2006Bachelor Party Vegasas Z-Bobmovie2006Awesometownas Guy Reading Newspapermovie2005Suenoas Rajmovie2005How I Met Your Motheras Kevin Venkataraghavantv2005A Lot Like Loveas Jeetermovie2005Son of the Maskas Jorgemovie2005The Late Late Show with Craig Fergusonas Selftv2005Dancing in Twilightas Sammovie2004Houseas Lawrence Kutnertv2004Harold & Kumar Go to White Castleas Kumar Patelmovie2004The Soupas Selftv2004Ball and Chainas Bobbymovie2004Homeland Securityas Harrisonmovie2003Love Don't Co$t a Thingas Kenneth Warmanmovie2003Tru Callingas Steventv