Quick Facts
Born:
1977-04-23
Birthplace:
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Credits:
113 Total Roles
Kal Penn
Acting
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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
Known For
The Big Bang Theory
Kevin Campbell
House
Lawrence Kutner
American Horror Story
Mac Marzara
How I Met Your Mother
Kevin Venkataraghavan
Superman Returns
Stanford
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Henry Chanoor
Smile
Dr. Morgan Desai
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Kumar Patel
Full Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Celebrity Weakest Link TV | Self - Contestant |
| 2024 | The Underdoggs MOVIE | Ryan Kauffman |
| 2023 | Scott Pilgrim Takes Off TV | Ventakish (voice) |
| 2023 | Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong MOVIE | Self |
| 2022 | The Santa Clauses TV | Simon Choksi |
| 2022 | Smile MOVIE | Dr. Morgan Desai |
| 2021 | Hot Mess Holiday MOVIE | Kal Penn |
| 2021 | Untitled Horror Movie MOVIE | Mark |
| 2021 | Clarice TV | Shaan Tripathi |
| 2021 | Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers MOVIE | Self |