Chris Penn

Penn had notable parts in such films as All the Right Moves (1983), The Wild Life (1984), Footloose (also 1984), Pale Rider (1985), At Close Range (1986), Reservoir Dogs (1992), True Romance (1993), Short Cuts (also 1993), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), The Boys Club (1996), Rush Hour (1998), Corky Romano (2001), and Starsky & Hutch (2004). He won the Volpi Cup for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his performance in The Funeral (1996). He also provided the voice of corrupt cop Edward "Eddie" Pulaski in the action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004). 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" (cardiovascular disease).

• Name — Chris Penn • Birth Name — Christopher Shannon Penn • Born — 10 October 1965 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Died — 24 January 2006 • Place of death — Santa Monica, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1978–2006 • Father — Leo Penn • Mother — Eileen Ryan • Relatives — * Michael Penn (brother) • Sean Penn (brother) • Dylan Penn (niece) • Hopper Penn (nephew) • Partner — Steffiana De La Cruz (1993–1999)

Christopher Shannon Penn was born on October 10, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, to Leo Penn, an actor and director, and Eileen Ryan (née Annucci), an actress. His paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Lithuania and Russia, and his mother was a Catholic of Italian and Irish descent. 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 Charlie and the Talking Buzzard (1979), 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 as the best friend of Tom Cruise's character. He also appeared in the hit dance movie Footloose (1984) as the best friend of Kevin Bacon's character; played a villain in the Clint Eastwood 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, appeared in the motion picture Best of the Best (1989) 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 Best of the Best 2 (1993).

Two of his more memorable performances were in Reservoir Dogs as Nice Guy Eddie and True Romance as Nicky Dimes (both characters in scripts written by Quentin Tarantino). In 1996, he won the award for Best Supporting Actor at the Venice Film Festival for The Funeral. In 1990, Penn was cast in a season one episode of The Young Riders. He appeared as a villain who is killed by Josh Brolin's character James Butler "Jimmy" Hickok. In Robert Altman's ensemble film Short Cuts (1993), Penn played a troubled swimming pool cleaner who is disturbed by his wife's profession, a 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 played a confused highway patrolman searching for a car with three drag queens (played by 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 Cobb in the film Rush Hour (1998).

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. 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 in a criminal 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 2004–2005 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. He appeared in The Darwin Awards, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival the day after his death.

Penn was found dead in his Santa Monica apartment on January 24, 2006, at the age of 40. An autopsy and subsequent toxicology report performed by Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed the primary cause of death was cardiovascular disease. The report also noted that the prescription drug promethazine with codeine and an enlarged heart were possible contributing factors to his death. The toxicology report revealed that Valium, morphine, marijuana and an elevated level of codeine were found in his bloodstream. 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. Penn's grave is located at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1982 — Magnum, P.I. — Wounded Soldier in Vietnam — Episode: "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 Enright — Episode: "Matched Pair" • 1995 — Chicago Hope — Kevin Fitzpatrick — Episode: "Life Support" • 1996 — Dead Man's Walk — Charles Goodnight — Miniseries Episode: "#1.2" • 2002 — AFP: American Fighter Pilot — Narrator — Voice role • 2003 — CSI: Miami — Pete Wilton — Episode: "Grave Young Men" • The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire — Waylon Shaw — Series regular (6 episodes) • Will & Grace — Rudy — Episode: "Fanilow" • 2005 — Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Tommy Onerato — Episode: "Death Roe" • Everwood — Frank Sullivan — Episode: "Fate Accomplis" • Entourage — Chris Penn (Himself) — Episode: "An Offer Refused"

• Year — Title — Role — Artist • 1991 — "Date Rape" — Perpetrator — Sublime • 1995 — "Somebody's Crying" — Beachgoer — Chris Isaak • 1998 — "Can I Get A..." — Bartender — Jay-Z feat. Ja Rule & Amil

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2004 — Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Officer Edward "Eddie" Pulaski • 2021 — Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition — Archival recordings Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only

The authorities additionally record the headings Christopher Shannon Penn and Christopher Penn. His recorded language was English. He was the child of Leo Penn and Eileen Ryan. Other recorded relations include Dylan Penn.

Chris Penn is recorded as actor.