Highest rated as cast or director
Designated Survivor
2016 · 3 Seasons
Battle Creek
2015 · 1 Season
Deadbeat
2014 · 3 Seasons
Smile
2022
A Lot Like Love
2005
Kal Penn's 7 titles from the 2010s have a median Balasaur Score of 63, led by Designated Survivor (73) and Battle Creek (71), against 46 for those from the 2000s.
Biography
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
Acted in 74
2020s
- 2026
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
The Girl in the Woods
Movie
2010s
- 2019
Sunnyside
Garrett Modi · 11 episodes
- 2018
- 2017
Speech & Debate
James
- 2016
Better Off Single
Brice
- 2015
The Sisterhood of Night
Gordy Gambhir
- 2014
A Prayer for Rain
Motwani
- 2013
We Are Men
Gil Bartis · 11 episodes
Dementamania
Movie
- 2011
Harold & Kumars Yuletide Jamz
Kumar Patel
- 2010
2000s
- 2008
Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam
Kumar
- 2007
The Namesake
Gogol / Nikhil
- 2006
Bachelor Party Vegas
Z-Bob
Awesometown
Guy Reading Newspaper
- 2005
46Sueno
Raj
Dancing in Twilight
Sam
- 2004
Ball and Chain
Bobby
Homeland Security
Harrison
- 2003
All About the Andersons
Doctor George · 1 episode
Where's the Party Yaar?
Mo
Regarding Ardy
Fred
- 2002
- 2001
American Desi
Ajay Pandya
1990s
- 1999
Freshmen
Ajay
- 1998
Express: Aisle to Glory
Jackie Newton
- 1997
- 1996
- 1994
- 1992
Produced 2
Created 1
2010s
- 2019
Sunnyside
Creator
Appearances31
2020s
- 2025
- 2023
- 2021
Clarice: Behind the Scenes with Stars and Producers
Self
- 2020
Kal Penn Approves This Message
Self - Host · 6 episodes
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
The Problem with Apu
Self
Superhuman
Self - Host · 8 episodes
- 2016
- 2015
The Big Picture with Kal Penn
Himself - Host · 12 episodes
- 2014
- 2013
The Big Brain Theory
Self - Host · 8 episodes
- 2012
- 2011
2000s
- 2009
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
Self
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
1970s
- 1979
