Actor Kal Penn to join White House

The Indian American star of Mira Nair's The Namesake and a long time supporter of US President Barack Obama, is joining as a liaison between the administration and Asian constituents

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u00a0Kal Penn

Kal Penn, the Indian American actor of The Namesake and a long time supporter of US President Barack Obama, is joining the White House as a liaison between the administration and Asian constituents.

Born Kalpen Suresh Modi to Indian immigrant parents from Gujarat, the 31-year-old actor who had a recurring role on TV show House will join the White House staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison.

Penn will, in his new role, connect Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as arts groups.

Apart from The Namesake, Penn has had starring roles in the films National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Epic Movie, and Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay.

Penn endorsed Obama's White House bid in late 2007, and was a frequent campaign surrogate on the trail last year.