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Kal Penn

Actor, Producer, Additional CreditsBorn April 23, 1977 (48 years)
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

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Van Wilder
  • Deck the Halls
  • The Layover
  • Man About Town
  • Deadbeat
  • The Sisterhood of Night
  • Untitled Horror Movie
  • Better Off Single
  • Ball & Chain

Known For

  • Epic Movie
  • Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
  • Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
  • House
  • Smile
  • Designated Survivor
  • A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
  • Superman Returns
  • Van Wilder
  • Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
  • The Namesake
  • A Lot Like Love
  • Son of the Mask
  • The Girl in the Photographs
  • The Layover
  • Love Don't Cost a Thing
  • Battle Creek
  • Malibu's Most Wanted
  • Clarice
  • American Desi
  • Bachelor Party Vegas
  • Deadbeat
  • Where's the Party Yaar?
  • Sunnyside (2019)

Kal Penn Filmography

2024
The Underdoggs · as Ryan Kauffman
2023
The Imaginary · as Zinzan
2023
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (TV Series) · as Ventakish (voice)
2022
The Santa Clauses (TV Series) · as Simon Choksi
2022
Smile · as Dr. Morgan Desai
2021
2021
Clarice (TV Series) · as Shaan Tripathi
2020
Industry (TV Series) · as Jay Jonah Atterbury
2020
Mira, Royal Detective (TV Series) · as Mikku (voice)
2020
It's Pony (TV Series) · as Fred
2019
Helpsters (TV Series) · as Water Wally
2019
Sunnyside (2019) (TV Series) · as Garrett Modi
2018
Fancy Nancy (TV Series) · as Mr. Singh (voice)
2018
The Ashram · as Nitin
2017
2017
2017
Speech & Debate · as James
2016
2016
Designated Survivor (TV Series) · as Seth Wright
2015
Mack & Moxy (TV Series) · as Admirable Kal
2015
The Girl in the Photographs · as Peter Hemmings
2015
2015
Emily & Tim · as Tim (segment 2)
2015
Battle Creek (TV Series) · as Detective Fontanelle
2014
2014
2014
Deadbeat (TV Series) · as Clyde
2013
We Are Men (TV Series) · as Gil Bartis
2013
2013
Sanjay and Craig (TV Series) · as Greg
2012
Above Average Presents (TV Series) · as Gary Leland
2011
2011
American Horror Story (TV Series) · as Mac Marzara
2011
New Girl (TV Series) · as Tripp
2008
Top Gear (US) (TV Series)
2008
2008
2007
The Big Bang Theory (TV Series) · as Kevin Campbell
2007
Epic Movie · as Edward
2007
2007
The Call · as Ian
2006
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj · as Taj Mahal Badalandabad
2006
Deck the Halls · as Amit Sayid (uncredited)
2006
The Namesake · as Gogol / Nikhil
2006
Superman Returns · as Stanford
2006
Man About Town · as Alan Fineberg
2006
2005
Sueño · as Raj
2005
How I Met Your Mother (TV Series) · as Kevin Venkataraghavan
2005
A Lot Like Love · as Jeeter
2005
Son of the Mask · as Jorge
2005
Awesometown · as Guy Reading Newspaper
2004
House (TV Series) · as Lawrence Kutner
2004
2004
2004
Homeland Security · as Harrison
2003
Love Don't Cost a Thing · as Kenneth Warman
2003
Cosmopolitan · as Vandana's Fiancee
2003
Tru Calling (TV Series) · as Steven
2003
All About the Andersons (TV Series) · as Doctor George
2003
2003
2003
Regarding Ardy · as Fred
2002
Van Wilder · as Taj Mahal Badalandabad
2001
24 (TV Series) · as Ahmed Amar
2001
American Desi · as Ajay Pandya
2001
The Agency (TV Series) · as Malek
1999
Angel (TV Series) · as Young Man In Fez
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Henry Chanoor
1999
Freshmen · as Ajay
1999
Independent Lens (TV Series) · as Jagdesh
1997
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) · as Hunt
1996
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (TV Series) · as Prajeeb
1996
Spin City (TV Series) · as Buddy
1994
ER (TV Series) · as Narajan
1993
Boy Meets World (TV Series) · as Nerdy Audience Member
1993
NYPD Blue (TV Series) · as Solomon Al-Ramai
1992
1969
Sesame Street (TV Series)

2025
Celebrity Weakest Link (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant
2023
2023
Getting Warmer with Kal Penn (TV Series) · as Self
2021
Hot Mess Holiday · as Kal Penn
2021
Nick Cannon (TV Series) · as Self
2021
Money Hungry (2021) (TV Series) · as Self - Host
2021
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant
2021
Name That Tune (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant
2020
Kal Penn Approves This Message (TV Series) · as Self - Host
2020
The Drew Barrymore Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2020
GMA3: What You Need to Know (TV Series) · as Self
2020
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2020) (TV Series) · as Self - Contestant
2019
Blue's Clues & You! (TV Series) · as Self
2019
A Little Late with Lilly Singh (TV Series) · as Self
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show (TV Series) · as Self
2019
Tamron Hall (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2019
This Giant Beast That is the Global Economy (TV Series) · as Self - Host
2018
Lie Detector (TV Series) · as Self
2017
2017
The IMDb Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2017
Superhuman (2017) (TV Series) · as Self - Host
2016
Match Game (2016) (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist
2016
The $100,000 Pyramid (2016) (TV Series) · as Self
2016
To Tell The Truth (2016) (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist
2016
Join or Die with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self - Special Guest
2016
Superhuman · as Self - Host (2016-)
2015
The Big Picture With Kal Penn (TV Series) · as Himself - Host
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2015
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers (TV Series) · as Self
2013
The Queen Latifah Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2013
Hollywood Game Night (TV Series) · as Self
2013
New Day (TV Series) · as Self
2013
The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius (TV Series) · as Self - Host
2013
All In with Chris Hayes (TV Series) · as Self
2013
Nikki & Sara Live! (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2012
Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2012
Finding Your Roots (TV Series) · as Self
2012
CBS Saturday Morning (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2012
CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2012
CBS Mornings (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Host, Daily Show
2011
Impractical Jokers (TV Series) · as Self
2011
2011
The Chew (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2011
Next Time on Lonny (TV Series) · as Self
2011
Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self
2010
The Talk (TV Series) · as Self
2010
MasterChef (US) (TV Series) · as Self
2010
Family Feud (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant
2009
Let's Make a Deal (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2009
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2009
2008
Celebrity Family Feud (TV Series) · as Self - Celebrity Contestant
2007
Morning Joe (TV Series) · as Self
2007
Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2007
2006
2005
Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self
2005
2005
I Love the 90's Part Deux (TV Series) · as Self
2005
2004
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2004
The Soup (TV Series) · as Self
2003
Real Time with Bill Maher (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2002
Last Call with Carson Daly (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1999
SpongeBob SquarePants (TV Series) · as Self
1997
The View (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1996
The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Host
1994
The Howard Stern Show (TV Series) · as Self
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1992
HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1985
Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1979
1978
20/20 (TV Series) · as Self
1952
Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest

2021
Hot Mess Holiday · as Executive Producer
2020
Kal Penn Approves This Message (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2019
Sunnyside (2019) (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2019
This Giant Beast That is the Global Economy (TV Series) · as Consulting Producer
2015
2013
VICE News (TV Series)
2013
2006
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj · as Executive Producer

2020
Kal Penn Approves This Message (TV Series) · as Created By
2019
Sunnyside (2019) (TV Series) · as Created By

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