As "Kumar," he made it to White Castle and out of Guantanamo Bay, and now as himself he’s headed to the White House. Well, next door to the White House anyway.
Actor Kal Penn – who worked on President Barack Obama’s election campaign - has taken a job as associate director in the White House Office of Public Liaison. He’ll work out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Pennsylvania Avenue and focus on reaching out to the Asian American and arts communities.
The new job, of course, means you probably won't be seeing him on "House," "Law & Order SVU" or another "Harold and Kumar" flick for a while. He officially ended his role as Lawrence Kutner on House last week. The prominent Indian American actor, however, isn't "necessarily" giving up show business for good - just taking an opportunity to focus on another interest.
"From the time I was a kid, I really enjoyed that balance between the arts and public service. I went to a performing arts high school, but I still took a bunch of those dorky political science classes," Penn said in an interview with Entertainment Week.
The 31-year-old New Jersey native said his political interests are inspired by his grandparents who marched with Gandhi for Indian independence. "That was always in the back of my head," he told Entertainment Week.
Penn, who has starred in several movies including The Namesake, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle and Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, also has taught at the University of Pennsylvania.
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