Kal Penn
Acting Born Apr 23, 1977 Montclair, New Jersey, USA 118 credits
Biography
Kal Penn is an American actor, comedian, and author. Born on April 23, 1977, in Montclair, New Jersey, he is known for his roles in various films and television programs. Penn is best known for his portrayal of Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar movie franchise. He also appeared in the television series House as Lawrence Kutner, and in the film The Namesake as Nikhil Ganguli. Additionally, Penn played the role of Kevin in the television program How I Met Your Mother and Seth Wright in Designated Survivor. Penn has a total of 112 known credits in the acting field.
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Career overview
Kal Penn is an American actor known for his roles in various films and television shows. He is best known for his portrayal of Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar movie franchise. Penn has also appeared in other notable roles, including Lawrence Kutner on a television program and Seth Wright on Designated Survivor. In addition, he has played the character Kevin in How I Met Your Mother and Nikhil Ganguli in the film The Namesake.
Penn's acting career spans multiple genres and platforms. His work includes film and television, showcasing his versatility as an actor. The variety of roles he has taken on demonstrates his ability to adapt to different characters and storylines. His performances have been recognized through his association with several notable projects.
Kal Penn's acting credits include over 100 known roles, as listed on his profile. His career has been marked by a range of performances, from comedy to drama, and he continues to be recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Neil Patrick Harris
3 shared titles
Anthony Anderson
3 shared titles
Jennifer Morrison
2 shared titles
Alyson Hannigan
2 shared titles
Kathryn Hahn
2 shared titles
Kenan Thompson
2 shared titles
Joel McHale
2 shared titles
Rob Riggle
2 shared titles
Fred Willard
2 shared titles
Ryan Reynolds
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Trust Me, I'm a DoctorTrust Me, I'm a Doctor · Executive Producer
Celebrity Weakest Link
The Underdoggs
Scott Pilgrim Takes OffSchoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong
SmileThe Santa Clauses
Celebrity Wheel of FortuneClariceName That TuneUntitled Horror MovieHot Mess Holiday
IndustryMira, Royal DetectiveWho Wants to Be a MillionaireThe Girl in the WoodsKal Penn Approves This Message
The Kelly Clarkson ShowThe Kelly Clarkson ShowTamron HallA Little Late with Lilly SinghSunnyside
Fancy NancyThe Ashram
The LayoverOnce Upon a Time in VeniceSuperhumanSpeech & DebateThe Problem with Apu
Designated SurvivorMatch GameTo Tell the TruthThe $100,000 PyramidBetter Off Single
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertThe Late Late Show with James CordenBattle CreekEmily & TimThe Girl in the Photographs
Late Night with Seth MeyersDeadbeatA Prayer for Rain
Hollywood Game NightWe Are MenThe Big Brain TheoryDementamania
Finding Your Roots
American Horror StoryNew GirlImpractical JokersA Very Harold & Kumar ChristmasHarold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz
Top Gear
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenWe Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo BayHarold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam
The Big Bang TheoryEpic Movie
Superman ReturnsDeck the HallsVan Wilder 2: The Rise of TajVan Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj · Executive ProducerMan About Town
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonHow I Met Your MotherSon of the MaskA Lot Like LoveSueno
HouseThe SoupHarold & Kumar Go to White CastleHomeland SecurityBall and Chain
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Love Don't Co$t a ThingTru CallingAll About the AndersonsMalibu's Most Wanted
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
24The AgencyAmerican Desi
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAngelSpongeBob SquarePantsIndependent LensIndependent Lens
Express: Aisle to Glory
The ViewBuffy the Vampire Slayer
The Daily ShowSabrina, the Teenage WitchSpin City
Full filmography
- Trust Me, I'm a Doctor (2026) as Dr. Sandeep Kapoor
- Trust Me, I'm a Doctor (2026) Executive Producer
- Celebrity Weakest Link (2025) as Self - Contestant
- The Underdoggs (2024) as Ryan Kauffman
- Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023) as Ventakish (voice)
- Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong (2023) as Self
- Smile (2022) as Dr. Morgan Desai
- The Santa Clauses (2022) as Simon Choksi
- Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Clarice (2021) as Shaan Tripathi
- Name That Tune (2021) as Self - Contestant
- Untitled Horror Movie (2021) as Mark
- Hot Mess Holiday (2021) as Kal Penn
- Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers (2021) as Self
- Industry (2020) as Jay 'Jonah' Atterbury
- Mira, Royal Detective (2020) as Mikku (voice)
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2020) as Self - Contestant
- The Girl in the Woods (2020)
- Kal Penn Approves This Message (2020) as Self - Host
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest Host
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- Sunnyside (2019) as Garrett Modi
- Sunnyside (2019) Creator
- Fancy Nancy (2018) as Mr. Singh (voice)
- The Ashram (2018) as Nitin
- The Layover (2017) as Anuj
- Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017) as Rajeesh
- Superhuman (2017) as Self - Host
- Speech & Debate (2017) as James
- The Problem with Apu (2017) as Self
- Designated Survivor (2016) as Seth Wright
- Match Game (2016) as Self - Panelist
- To Tell the Truth (2016) as Self - Panelist
- The $100,000 Pyramid (2016) as Self
- Better Off Single (2016) as Brice
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Battle Creek (2015) as Detective Fontanelle
- Emily & Tim (2015) as Tim (Segment 2)
- The Girl in the Photographs (2015) as Peter Hemmings
- The Sisterhood of Night (2015) as Gordy Gambhir
- The Big Picture with Kal Penn (2015) as Himself - Host
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Deadbeat (2014) as Clyde
- A Prayer for Rain (2014) as Motwani
- Hollywood Game Night (2013) as Self
- We Are Men (2013) as Gil Bartis
- The Big Brain Theory (2013) as Self - Host
- Dementamania (2013)
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- American Horror Story (2011) as Mac Marzara
- New Girl (2011) as Tripp
- Impractical Jokers (2011) as Self
- A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011) as Kumar Patel
- Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz (2011) as Kumar Patel
- Top Gear (2010)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009) as Self
- Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) as Kumar Patel
- Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam (2008) as Kumar
- The Big Bang Theory (2007) as Kevin Campbell
- Epic Movie (2007) as Edward
- Superman Returns (2006) as Stanford
- Deck the Halls (2006) as Amit Sayid (uncredited)
- Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006) as Taj Mahal Badalandabad
- Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006) Executive Producer
- Man About Town (2006) as Alan Fineberg
- Awesometown (2006) as Guy Reading Newspaper
- The Namesake (2006) as Gogol / Nikhil
- Bachelor Party Vegas (2006) as Z-Bob
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- How I Met Your Mother (2005) as Kevin Venkataraghavan
- Son of the Mask (2005) as Jorge
- A Lot Like Love (2005) as Jeeter
- Sueno (2005) as Raj
- Dancing in Twilight (2005) as Sam
- House (2004) as Lawrence Kutner
- The Soup (2004) as Self
- Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) as Kumar Patel
- Homeland Security (2004) as Harrison
- Ball and Chain (2004) as Bobby
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Love Don't Co$t a Thing (2003) as Kenneth Warman
- Tru Calling (2003) as Steven
- All About the Andersons (2003) as Doctor George
- Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) as Hadji
- Where's the Party Yaar? (2003) as Mo
- Regarding Ardy (2003) as Fred
- Cosmopolitan (2003) as Vandana's Fiancee
- National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002) as Taj Mahal Badalandabad
- 24 (2001) as Ahmed Amar
- The Agency (2001) as Malek
- American Desi (2001) as Ajay Pandya
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Henry Chanoor
- Angel (1999) as Young Man in Fez
- SpongeBob SquarePants (1999) as Himself
- Independent Lens (1999) as Jagdesh
- Independent Lens (1999) as Vandana's Fiancee
- Freshmen (1999) as Ajay
- Express: Aisle to Glory (1998) as Jackie Newton
- The View (1997) as Self - Guest
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) as Hunt
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest Host
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996) as Prajeeb
- Spin City (1996) as Buddy
- ER (1994) as Narajan
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- CBS News Sunday Morning (1979) as Self
- Sesame Street (1969)
- What the F*ck Is My Password?!
- Contra as Dale Stone
- Untitled Harold & Kumar Sequel as Kumar Patel
- Patel
- Patel Executive Producer
- Brookfield as Kumar Zimmerman