Kal Penn Starts Work As White House Liaison

 
 
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  • Kal Penn with Obama at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on January 18, 2009
  • ‘House’ star Kal Penn hits the red carpet at the SAG Awards
  • Adam Frankel and Kal Penn attend the White House Correspondents’ dinner, May 9, 2009

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    Kal Penn with Obama at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on January 18, 2009

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    ‘House’ star Kal Penn hits the red carpet at the SAG Awards

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    Adam Frankel and Kal Penn attend the White House Correspondents’ dinner, May 9, 2009

 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: July 6, 2009 2:55 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: July 6, 2009 3:17 PM EDT

WASHINGTON D.C. --

Actor Kal Penn has started his new job as a liaison between the White House and Asian communities.

The actor had a recurring role on Fox’s TV show “House” and starred in several films including “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.” On Monday, he became an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison, with a focus on connecting Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as arts groups.

Penn, who backed Obama during the campaign, says the new job has nothing to do with his life as an actor and he expects to be treated the same as any other White House staffer.

When asked about the differences between the new job and his work in Hollywood, Penn quipped that he now wears a suit.

Copyright 2009 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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