Actor Kal Penn joins White House team - Associate Director, OPL

Actor Kal Penn joins White House team

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By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images Actor Kal Penn of the television show 'House' and the 'Harold and Kumar' movie series is joining the staff of the White House. Here, Penn is seen with President Obama - then President-elect Obama - on the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 18 during inauguration festivities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has hired actorKal Penn as a liaison between President Obama's administration and Hollywood.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye said Tuesday that the actor who had a recurring role on the Fox TV show House and has starred in several movies would join the staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. His role will be to connect Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as arts and entertainment groups.

Penn starred as Kumar in the movie, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

Penn was an Obama supporter during the campaign. The White House says a start date for Penn has not been set.

The hire was first reported by Entertainment Weekly.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Barack Obama | White House | Hollywood | Guantanamo Bay | Entertainment Weekly | Fox TV | Asian-American | Harold | Kal Penn | Pacific Islander | Kumar Escape | Office of Public Liaison

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