Kal Penn to quit acting for good?

[Lunar_Wolf]

You may know Kal Penn best from his sex/weed comedies such as Harold & Kumar and Van Wilder, so the last place I expected this guy to be hanging around was, The White House. Penn is heavily into politics and has been offered a job as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison and intergovernmental affairs in the Obama administration. We get the news from Film Spunk

"I love what I do as an actor. I couldn't love it more. But probably from the time I was a kid, I really enjoyed that balance between the arts and public service. I thought this might be the right time to go off and do something else.

"There's not a lot of financial reward in these jobs. Obviously, the opportunity to serve in a capacity like this is an incredible honor."


Penn's most recent role is on the TV show House, but due to this career move, he was asked to be written out of the show. I'm happy for the guy, but I will miss him in the acting circle.

So the question is, will Kal Penn back out of acting for good? I think it comes down to how much he gets involved in his new job within the next few years. If it's something that rewards him on a daily basis, then he might never want to leave politics and he may think that acting is passed him.

I wish Mr Penn good luck.

 

[Sawyer]

Eeh... dont watch much of his stuff. No big loss.

 

[StorminNorman]

We aren't lucky enough.

 

[Mutagen]

Funny guy, he would be missed.

 

[StorminNorman]

Personally I find this move to be the best joke of his career.

 

[Motown Marvel]

what does this mean for a superman returns sequel?!

 

[Sawyer]

what does this mean for a superman returns sequel?!

 

[Rishi]

Good for him.

I love the Harold & Kumar movies, Van Wilder was terrible though. Word was they were gonna start up on H&K3 after this granny vs granny movie the writiers/directors are doing, so obama's term might be up by then anyway

 

[Mr. Credible]

cheese and rice, it was driving my nuts trying to figure out why he was "written" off of house m.d. so um... abruptly. you'd think kal would have at least had the decency to stick around to make his character's absence more beleivable...

what they did to him, and the way the episode was written around it made for one of the worst episodes of house in memory.

 

[Motown Marvel]

aw come on, it was a little funny.

 

[Hush]

It was Motown, im so glad President Obama i picking such qualified individuals. :/

 

[xwolverine2]

i always hated all his movies so im sorta glad

however now he's helping to run our country....

 

[The Squirrel]

cheese and rice, it was driving my nuts trying to figure out why he was "written" off of house m.d. so um... abruptly. you'd think kal would have at least had the decency to stick around to make his character's absence more beleivable...

what they did to him, and the way the episode was written around it made for one of the worst episodes of house in memory.

What happened to his character on House?

 

[louiebling$]

He Better not quit we still need a H&K 3

 

[ttotheusher]

Do you reckon he might sugest that Weed be made legal, like at the end of H&K2?

 

[Master Chief]

Penn recommended legalized weed and the bill was passed so I ****ed. In. My pants. :heart: LOL

What happened to his character on House?

Spoiler

Suicide, shot himself in the head.

There is no reason given as to why, just House looking for reasons. I liked it, I think it was handled really well considering it was on such short notice. Quazy politics!

 

[Retroman]

Guys...the Harold and Kumar films are IMO no measure of his talent. You should check him out in The Namesake.

 

[Nivek]

Good luck. He has a passion for the political game, all the power to him. It's quite an honor.

 

[Rac]

And nothing of value was lost.

 

[KenK]

Guys...the Harold and Kumar films are IMO no measure of his talent. You should check him out in The Namesake.

That was a very good movie. I'd have loved to see him do more dramatic work.

 

[terry78]

He did comedy and drama, so he's not like a bad actor or whatever. Just chalk this up to another Governator type thing. Though I suspect he will be in huge demand to do cameos after this.

 

[Prison Mike]

I think what's he doing is great. He has a passion for this stuff. He taught at UPenn and campagined for Obama. He came to my college last fall to encourage people to register and vote. He was awesome in The Namesake and House. I loved his comedy stuff in Harold and Kumar and Van Wilder also.

 

[Boom]

He's never done anything that memorable for me.

Can't say I give a ****.

 

[KenK]

You do have to admire him. For all the celebrities who talk politics in the public, it's great whenever you see situations like this when they actually decide to give up their lives as celebrities to be so actively involved. Especially at this stage in Penn's career, when people actually know of him beyond saying "That Indian Guy In Van Wilder!" (which is actually how he was credited in the voiceover for the trailer for the first Harold & Kumar). I don't know if I could give up a regular role on one of the most popular shows on television like that. Maybe for family reasons, but for politics? Bump that!

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

I think what's he doing is great. He has a passion for this stuff. He taught at UPenn and campagined for Obama. He came to my college last fall to encourage people to register and vote. He was awesome in The Namesake and House. I loved his comedy stuff in Harold and Kumar and Van Wilder also.

Did you meet him?