Chris Penn: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American actor (1965–2006)}}

| name = Chris Penn

| image = Chris Penn.jpg

| caption = Penn in ''[[Corky Romano]]'' (2001)

| birth_name = Christopher Shannon Penn

| birth_date = {{birth date|1965|10|10}}

| birth_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2006|01|24|1965|10|10}}

| death_place = [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], [[California]], U.S.

| restingplace = [[Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City]], California, U.S.

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1976–2006

| father = [[Leo Penn]]

| mother = [[Eileen Ryan]]

| relatives = {{unbulleted list|[[Michael Penn]] (brother)|[[Sean Penn]] (brother)|[[Dylan Penn]] (niece)}}

| partner = {{unbulletedlist | Steffiana De La Cruz (1993–1999) | Cristina Goldberg (Goldie) (2002–2006; his death)

}}

'''Christopher Shannon Penn''' (October 10, 1965 – January 24, 2006) was an American actor. He was the brother of actor [[Sean Penn]] and musician [[Michael Penn]]. Noted as a skilled [[character actor]], he was [[Typecasting (acting)|typically cast]] as a tough character, featured as a villain or a [[working-class]] thug, or in a [[Comic relief|comic]] role and had roles in such films as ''[[To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar|To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar]],'' ''[[The Wild Life (film)|The Wild Life]]'', ''[[Reservoir Dogs]]'', ''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]'', ''[[Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose]]'', ''[[Rush Hour (1998 film)|Rush Hour]]'', ''[[Corky Romano]]'', ''[[True Romance]]'', ''[[Beethoven's 2nd (film)|Beethoven's 2nd]], [[Short Cuts]]'', ''[[The Boys Club]]'', ''[[All the Right Moves (film)|All the Right Moves]]'', ''[[At Close Range]]'', ''[[Pale Rider]]'', and ''[[Starsky & Hutch (film)|Starsky & Hutch]]''. During his career Penn had won the [[Volpi Cup for Best Actor]] for his performance in ''The Funeral''. He also provided the voice of corrupt cop Edward "Eddie" Pulaski in the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''.

Penn was found dead in his apartment on January 24, 2006, at the age of 40. An autopsy revealed the primary cause for his death was "nonspecific [[cardiomyopathy]]" (heart disease).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article341030.ece |title=The price of fame: The final reel of Chris Penn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203094602/http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article341030.ece |archive-date=February 3, 2006 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London |date=26 January 2006 |access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/APPRECIATION-Let-us-praise-Chris-Penn-in-all-2523552.php |title=Let us praise Chris Penn—in all his guises |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |first=Peter |last=Hartlaub |date=31 January 2006 |access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref>

Penn was born in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], to [[Leo Penn]], an actor and director, and [[Eileen Ryan]] (née Annucci), an actress. His paternal grandparents were [[Jew]]ish immigrants from [[Lithuanian Jews|Lithuania]] and [[Russian Jews|Russia]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=11929 |title=Jews Flop in Big Oscar Award Wins |newspaper=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]] |date=March 5, 2004 |access-date=August 31, 2018 |first=Tom |last=Tugend |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428083553/http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=11929 |archive-date=28 April 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref> and his mother was a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] of [[Italian Americans|Italian]] and [[Irish Americans|Irish]] descent.<ref>{{cite book |first=Richard T. |last=Kelly |title=Sean Penn: His Life and Times |publisher=[[Canongate Books]] |year=2004 |location=[[New York City]] |pages=9–10 |isbn=978-1841956237 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5omJUX4YRuEC}}</ref> His older brothers are actor [[Sean Penn]] and musician [[Michael Penn]].

Penn started acting at the age of 12 at the Loft Studio and made his film debut in 1979's ''Charlie and the Talking Buzzard'', starring Christopher Hanks. In 1983, he was featured in [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s youth drama ''[[Rumble Fish]]'' and appeared in the [[high school football]] drama ''[[All the Right Moves (film)|All the Right Moves]]'' as the best friend of [[Tom Cruise]]'s character. He also appeared in the hit dance movie ''[[Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose]]'' in 1984 as the best friend of [[Kevin Bacon]]'s character; played a villain in the [[Clint Eastwood]] [[Western (genre)|western]] ''[[Pale Rider]]'' (1985); and co-starred with his brother [[Sean Penn]] and mother [[Eileen Ryan]] in ''[[At Close Range]]'' (1986).

Penn, who had a black belt in [[karate]],<ref>{{cite web| date=2015-01-25| title=Chris Penn| url=https://www.martialartsentertainment.com/chris-penn/| access-date=July 16, 2020| website=Martial Arts & Action Entertainment| language=en-US}}</ref> appeared in the 1989 motion picture ''[[Best of the Best (1989 film)|Best of the Best]]'' as Travis Brickley, a cocky member of the U.S. Karate team taking on the team from [[Korea]]. The film also starred [[James Earl Jones]], [[Sally Kirkland]], [[Eric Roberts]], [[Phillip Rhee]], and Simon Rhee. Penn reprised his role in 1993's ''[[Best of the Best 2]]''.

In 1990, Penn was cast in a season one episode of ''[[The Young Riders]]''. He appeared as a villain and was killed by [[Josh Brolin]]'s character James Butler "Jimmy" Hickok. In [[Robert Altman]]'s 1993 ensemble film ''[[Short Cuts]]'', Penn played a troubled swimming pool cleaner who is disturbed by his wife's profession (a [[Phone sex|telephone sex worker]] who takes calls from clients at home) to which Penn's character is sometimes obliged to listen. This leads to very disturbing consequences. In 1995, he playedaconfused highway patrolman searching foracar with three [[drag queen|drag queens]] (playedby[[Patrick Swayze]], [[Wesley Snipes]], and [[John Leguizamo]]) in ''[[To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar]]''.

Penn appeared in [[Jay-Z]]'s 1998 music video "[[Can I Get A...]]" as a bartender who mixes drinks and dances. He also played the character Clive Cod in the 1998 film ''[[Rush Hour (1998 film)|Rush Hour]]''.

In 2001, Penn was meant to appear in ''[[American Pie 2]]'' as [[Steve Stifler]]'s father, but his scenes were eventually cut as there was insufficient time to include him in the film's plot. However, they appeared on the deleted scene reel on the DVD release.<ref>{{cite web| title=American Pie 2 (2001)| website=[[IMDb]]| url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252866/alternateversions| access-date=2020-07-16}}</ref> Penn then went on to co-star opposite [[Peter Berg]] as the mafia brothers of Corky in ''[[Corky Romano]]''. He also appeared as a [[fall guy]] inacriminal conspiracy in ''[[Murder by Numbers]]'', alongside [[Sandra Bullock]].

In 2003, he appeared on the ''[[Will & Grace]]'' episode "[[Fanilow]]", as [[Barry Manilow]]'s tour director and a character who is interested romantically in Will. Penn was featured in an episode of the television crime drama ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' ("[[Death Roe]]") during the [[2004-05 United States network television schedule|2004–2005 season]]. He was also featured on the 2004 video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' as the voice of crooked officer Eddie Pulaski. Penn played himself on a 2005 episode of the [[HBO]] series ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]''. He appeared in ''[[The Darwin Awards (film)|The Darwin Awards]]'', which premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] the day after his death.

==Death==

Penn was found dead in his [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]] [[apartment]] on January 24, 2006, at the age of 40.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2006/January-2006/01_25_06_Actor_Chris_Penn_Found_Dead.htm |title=Actor Chris Penn Found Dead in his Santa Monica Home |date=January 25, 2006 |access-date=August 31, 2018 |work=Surf Santa Monica}}</ref> An autopsy and subsequent toxicology report performed by a [[Los Angeles County Coroner|Los Angeles County medical examiner]] revealed the primary cause of death was heart disease. The report also noted that the prescription drug [[promethazine]] with [[codeine]] and an enlarged heart were possible contributing factors to his death.<ref>{{cite web| date=September 7, 2012| title=10 Fallen Stars and Their Toxicology Reports| url=https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/death-dying/10-stars-and-their-toxicology-report.htm| access-date=July 16, 2020| website=HowStuffWorks| language=en}}</ref> The toxicology report revealed that [[Valium]], [[morphine]], marijuana and an elevated level of codeine were found in his bloodstream.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drugs in Chris Penn's System: Toxicologist |url=https://people.com/celebrity/drugs-in-chris-penns-system-toxicologist/ |access-date=December 16, 2020 |first=Stephen M. |last=Siverman |date=February 23, 2006 |journal=People |language=EN}}</ref> Penn gained considerable weight throughout the 1990s. [[Sean Penn]] said in an interview on ''[[Larry King Live]]'' that his brother probably died because of his weight.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Sean Penn: Chris's Weight Killed Him |journal=[[People (magazine)|People]] |url=https://people.com/celebrity/sean-penn-chriss-weight-killed-him/ |first=Stephen M. |last=Silverman |date=September 14, 2006 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref>

Penn's grave is located at [[Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City|Holy Cross Cemetery]] in [[Culver City, California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Photographer-disrupts-Chris-Penn-funeral/95721139151277/ |work=[[UPI]] |title=Photographer disrupts Chris Penn funeral |location=Culver City, California |date=February 5, 2006 |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref>

=== Film ===

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

|-

|1979

|''Charlie and the Talking Buzzard''

|Pete

|Credited as Christopher Penn (debut role)

|-

| rowspan="3" |1983

|''[[All the Right Moves (film)|All the Right Moves]]''

|Brian

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''[[Rumble Fish]]''

|B.J. Jackson

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''Nobody's Heroes''

|N/A

|Director/Producer/Writer

|-

| rowspan="2" |1984

|''[[Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose]]''

|Willard

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''[[The Wild Life (film)|The Wild Life]]''

|Tom Drake

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|1985

|''[[Pale Rider]]''

|Josh LaHood

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|1986

|''[[At Close Range]]''

|Tommy

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|1987

|''[[Made in U.S.A. (1987 film)|Made in U.S.A.]]''

|Tuck

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

| rowspan="2" |1989

|''[[Return from the River Kwai]]''

|Lieutenant Crawford

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''[[Best of the Best (1989 film)|Best of the Best]]''

|Travis Brickley

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

| rowspan="3" |1991

|''[[Mobsters (film)|Mobsters]]''

|Tommy Reina

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''[[Leather Jackets (film)|Leather Jackets]]''

|Steve 'Big Steve'

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''Future Kick''

|'Bang'

|

|-

|1992

|''[[Reservoir Dogs]]''

|Eddie 'Nice Guy Eddie' Cabot

|

|-

| rowspan="7" |1993

|''[[Best of the Best II]]''

|Travis Brickley

|Credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|''[[The Music of Chance (film)|The Music of Chance]]''

|Floyd

|

|-

|''[[The Pickle]]''

|Gregory Stone

|

|-

|''[[Short Cuts]]''

|Jerry Kaiser

|

|-

|''[[True Romance]]''

|Detective Nicky Dimes

|

|-

|''[[Josh and S.A.M.]]''

|Derek Baxter

|

|-

|''[[Beethoven's 2nd (film)|Beethoven's 2nd]]''

|Floyd

|

|-

|1994

|''[[Imaginary Crimes]]''

|Jarvis

|

|-

| rowspan="4" |1995

|''[[Fist of the North Star (1995 film)|Fist of the North Star]]''

|'Jackal'

|

|-

|''[[To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar|To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar]]''

|Sheriff Dollard

|

|-

|''[[Under the Hula Moon]]''

|'Turk' Dickson

|

|-

|''Sacred Cargo''

|Vince Kanevsky

|

|-

| rowspan="3" |1996

|''[[Mulholland Falls]]''

|Detective Arthur Relyea

|

|-

|''[[The Funeral (1996 film)|The Funeral]]''

|'Chez'

|Nominated – [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead|Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead]]

|-

|''[[The Boys Club]]''

|Luke

|

|-

|1997

|''[[Deceiver (film)|Deceiver]]''

|Detective Philip Braxton

|

|-

| rowspan="4" |1998

|''Papertrail''

|FBI Agent Jason Enola

|

|-

|''[[One Tough Cop]]''

|Duke Finnerly

|

|-

|''[[Rush Hour (1998 film)|Rush Hour]]''

|Clive

|

|-

|''Family Attraction''

|Father

|Short film

|-

|1999

|''[[The Florentine (film)|The Florentine]]''

|Bobby

|

|-

|2000

|''[[Cement (film)|Cement]]''

|Bill Holt

|

|-

| rowspan="2" |2001

|''[[Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang)]]''

|Bubba

|

|-

|''[[Corky Romano]]''

|Peter Romano

|

|-

| rowspan="3" |2002

|''[[Murder by Numbers]]''

|Ray

|

|-

|''Redemption''

|Tony Leggio

|Direct-to-video

|-

|''[[Stealing Harvard]]''

|David Loach

|

|-

| rowspan="3" |2003

|''[[American Pie (film series)|American Pie: Beneath the Crust Vol. 2]]''

|Stiffler's Dad

|Deleted scenes

|-

|''[[Masked and Anonymous]]''

|Crew Guy #2

|

|-

|''Shelter Island''

|Sheriff DeLuca

|

|-

| rowspan="2" |2004

|''[[Starsky & Hutch (film)|Starsky & Hutch]]''

|Officer Manetti

|

|-

|''[[After the Sunset]]''

|Rowdy Fan

|

|-

| rowspan="3" |2006

|''[[The Darwin Awards (film)|The Darwin Awards]]''

|Tom

|Posthumous release

|-

|''Juarez: Stages of Fear''

|Unknown Role

|Direct-to-video; also executive producer

|-

|''[[Holly (2006 film)|Holly]]''

|Freddie

|Posthumous release

|-

|2007

|''[[King of Sorrow (film)|King of Sorrow]]''

|Detective Enola

|Posthumous release

|-

|2013

|''[[Aftermath (2013 film)|Aftermath]]''

|Tony Bricker

|Filmed in 2005; posthumous release (final film role)

|}

=== Television ===

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

|-

|1982

|''[[Magnum, P.I.]]''

|Wounded Soldier in Vietnam

|Episode: "[[List of Magnum, P.I. episodes|Heal Thyself]]"; credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|1985

|''North Beach and Rawhide''

|Dan Donnelly

|TV movie

|-

|1987

|''[[Faerie Tale Theatre]]''

|Will Tussennbrook

|Episode: "Rip Van Winkle"; credited as Christopher Penn

|-

|1990

|''[[The Young Riders]]''

|Brad

|Episode: "Matched Pair"

|-

|1995

|''[[Chicago Hope]]''

|Kevin Fitzpatrick

|Episode: "[[List of Chicago Hope episodes|Life Support]]"

|-

|1996

|''[[Dead Man's Walk (miniseries)|Dead Man's Walk]]''

|'Goodnight'

|Miniseries

Episode: "#1.2"

|-

|2002

|''[[AFP: American Fighter Pilot]]''

|Narrator

|Voice role

|-

| rowspan="3" |2003

|''[[CSI: Miami]]''

|Pete Wilton

|Episode: "[[List of CSI: Miami episodes|Grave Young Men]]"

|-

|''[[The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire]]''

|Waylon Shaw

|Series regular (6 episodes)

|-

|''[[Will & Grace]]''

|Rudy

|Episode: "[[List of Will & Grace episodes|Fanilow]]"

|-

| rowspan="3" |2005

|''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''

|Tommy Onerato

|Episode: "[[List of Law & Order: Criminal Intent episodes|Death Roe]]"

|-

|''[[Everwood]]''

|Frank Sullivan

|Episode: "[[Everwood (season 1)|Fate Accomplis]]"

|-

|''[[Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]''

|Chris Penn (Himself)

|Episode: "[[List of Entourage episodes|An Offer Refused]]"

|}

=== Music videos ===

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Artist

|-

|1991

|"[[Date Rape (song)|Date Rape]]"

|Perpetrator

|[[Sublime (band)|Sublime]]

|-

|1995

|"[[Somebody's Crying]]"

|Beachgoer

|[[Chris Isaak]]

|-

|1998

|"[[Can I Get A...]]"

|Bartender

|[[Jay-Z]] feat. [[Ja Rule]] & [[Amil]]

|}

== Video games ==

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

|-

|2004

|''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''

|Officer Eddie Pulaski

|Voice role

|-

|2021

|''[[Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition]]''

|Officer Eddie Pulaski

|Archival recordings; remaster of ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' only

|}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]

[[Category:American male video game actors]]

[[Category:Deaths from cardiomyopathy]]

[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]

[[Category:Volpi Cup for Best Actor winners]]

[[Category:Penn family (acting)|Chris]]