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Indian-American actor Kal Penn has left Hollywood – for the White House. The star of the two Harold & Kumar films was abruptly written off his co-starring role in Monday’s episode of House. The casting change was unexpected, and Kal Penn spoke to Entertainment Weekly (story via US Magazine) about why he left the hit television show.
Penn is taking the position of associate director of The Office of Public Liaison & Intergovernmental Affairs. Penn describes the position, saying, “They’re basically the front door of the White House. They take out all of the red tape that falls between the general public and the White House.” So it’s a position that will deal with the public, the media, the bureaucracy, all while being very media-savvy. Very Hollywood. Good hire, President Obama.
Warning: Spoilers for Monday’s show in quoted text below
Kal Penn has left Fox’s House for the White House.
The 31-year-old actor — whose character, Dr. Kutner, committed suicide on Monday’s show — tells Entertainment Weekly that it was his decision to leave the hit show to work for President Obama.
Penn will be the associate director in the White House’s Office of Public Liaison & Intergovernmental Affairs — a similar job he had while campaigning for Obama last year.
“They do outreach with the American public and with different organizations,” Penn explains. “They’re basically the front door of the White House. They take out all of the red tape that falls between the general public and the White House.”
Penn — known for his role in the stoner comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle — says he had been “thinking” about moving into politics “for a while.”
He took several political science courses in college and even participated in an online international studies program at Stanford in 2006.
“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,” he says. “I thought this might be the right time to go off and do something else.”
Penn — who called his new gig “a relatively recent development” — doesn’t mind taking a pay cut.
“There’s not a lot of financial reward in these jobs,” he says. “Obviously, the opportunity to serve in a capacity like this is an incredible honor.”
[From US Magazine]
Penn is a rarity in Hollywood – he’s very politically and socially active, and he’s always put his time and his money where his mouth is. This is a really cool gig for him, but I’ll miss him on House and in films. He’s a talented comedic and dramatic actor, but I can see how he wouldn’t want to pass up an opportunity to work in the Obama White House. I hope he comes back to Hollywood after his stint in Washington!
Here’s Kal Penn at the SAG awards on January 25th. Images thanks to WENN .
Written by Kaiser
Posted in Careers, Kal Penn, Politics
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25 Responses to “Kal Penn left ‘House’ to work at the White House (spoilers for past show)”
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Good for him. I will really miss seeing him on House. To say the least, I’m still stunned on how they wrote his character out.
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Awww. I’m gonna miss Dr. Kutner. He’s my favorite out of all the new ducklings. I missed the last episode, cause I’m overseas, but I guess I know now what happened.
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good for him
and its Always well not always– Always but 99% of the time the minority actor in a movie or show gets killed first .
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Love him.
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Thanks for ruining House for me Celebitch. Was a couple of episodes behind, catching up online but looks like I know what’s coming NOW. Not cool.
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Yeah I agree with Millie. I don’t watch TV, so I have to wait till Hulu puts the new episodes up a few days late.
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Agreed with millie #5. How about putting “spoiler alert” in the headline??? I haven’t seen this episode yet so no thanks to you for ruining it. Yes, watching “House” a few days after it runs is one of the highlights of my week.
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Good for him!
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This really, really should have had a spoiler alert (for shame), but take heart, Millie, Ohforf, and Pokes — knowing this won’t change the viewing experience — it is not hinted at in any of the eps leaving up and it happens close to the start of this ep. Much of the aftermath is the same no matter how you found out.
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Oh, crap. I haven’t watched last night’s episode yet. How sad.
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aw i love him. of course he was awesome in harold & kumar but i just watched the namesake & it was so good. he just seems like a good guy.
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I was so shocked when I watched last night…I had no idea this was coming!!!
Good for him, though, if that’s what he wanted.
I agree about the spoiler alert thing, though…I’d have been upset about this posting if I hadn’t seen the episode already.
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Love him. Adore him.
And I honestly think he’s an excellent choice.
Very well spoken, very intelligent (UCLA alum!) and yup! Puts his money where his mouth is.
He isn’t like The Governator who just woke up one day and decided “Yaah, I tink I am interested in Politiks. Yah.”
And rofl at Kaiser spoiling House for everyone. Whoops! Aww it’s ok, it’ll still make the episode good!
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I cannot tell you how sorry I am for that spoiler and will add that to the headline and above the quoted text. To be fair to Kaiser, it was in the quoted text from US Weekly and she did not mention it, but still we’re sorry!
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I’m so sad he left, that ep made me cry. Kutner was my favorite of the new ones. But I really think he’ll do a great job, he’s incredibly bright and really could do the country some good.
Also, I’m not sure if the title of the article is in the process of changing, if it is ignore this, but the title itself is a huge spoiler in addition to the article. Some may not know he left House.
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Working for Obama is the biggest and most satisfying job he’ll probably ever have!!! Sure it’s a pay cut but he’ll still be receiving his royalty checks in the mail. I’d go too if I had the chance. I think I want to be the International Administer for World Domination Hate on everyone that can’t just get along…LOL.
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I saw the episode last night and wondered what happened to him. I guess the spoiler comment at the top must have been added. I’m glad this was here, though, because I was so curious.
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It’s nice to see someone in Hollywood with an interest in public service who actually takes a position and does the work. Congrats to him.
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Kumar?
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too be fair there have been net rumors for the past two weeks that someone from the cast was leaving; both fan &gossip sites. However most folks thought it would be 13 or the guy having all the financial problems.
Still have not seen the episode will watch it tonight on http://www.hulu.com but this does not change the drama for me. I cannot wait to see the episode.
You guys are really hard on Kaiser, I have really enjoyed her post.
Thks K
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I watched it last night and I was surprised! It was unexpected to say the least. But I’ll miss him not being on the show. Good luck to Penn!
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Wow.
Bravo Kal!!!
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Oh I am so torn!
Incredibly bummed that he won’t be on House anymore, but this is so exciting for him!
Mostly bummed, though- he was great on that show!
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I cannot believe he committed suicide. Did not see that coming at all \. Kept that secret under wraps. Good show, and good for you Kal
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Team America anyone ?
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