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 .