Kal Penn: From Fox's 'House' to the White House

Why the <em>Harold and Kumar</em> co-star left TV to go work with Obama

“How about that,” said Ben Smith in Politico. Actor Kal Penn, “who was a remarkably diligent, oddly well-informed campaigner for Obama, killed his character," Dr. Lawrence Kutner, on House Monday night so he could take a job with the president. The Harold and Kumar co-star is set to become associate director in the White House Office of Public Liaison—talk about a career change. (watch Kal Penn campaigning for Obama)

“It's always refreshing to see someone willing to put their money where their mouth is,” said Patrick Goldstein in the Los Angeles Times. “There are thousands of actors in Hollywood with strong political opinions and passions,” but Penn is taking action—he’ll “be taking quite a big pay cut,” too.

This may be a great opportunity for Penn, said Andy Greene in Rolling Stone, but it’s “terrible news for fans of stoner comedy.” What about Harold and Kumar 3? (watch the trailer for Harold and Kumar) “What if Star Wars stopped after Empire Strikes Back because Mark Hamill went to work for Ronald Reagan?” I’m bummed.