actor Chris Penn found dead

Celebrity Obituaries Forum

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Actor Chris Penn, brother of Sean Penn, was found dead Tuesday at a condominium near the beach in Santa Monica, police said.

Police said they discovered the 40-year-old actor's body around 4 p.m. Lt. Frank Fabrega said there were no obvious signs of foul play.

Sean Penn's publicist, Mara Buxbaum, issued a statement saying that "the Penn family would appreciate the media's respect of their privacy during this difficult time."

Chris Penn's body was found inside the four-story condominium complex after police were called by someone from within the building, Fabrega said.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, authorities said.

Chris Penn's credits included "Mulholland Falls," "Rumble Fish," "All the Right Moves," "Footloose" and "Rush Hour." He also played Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino crime drama "Reservoir Dogs."

His late father, Leo Penn, directed television shows. His mother, Eileen Ryan, is an actress whose credits include "I Am Sam," "Magnolia" and "Parenthood." Another brother is musician Michael Penn.

Chris Penn's latest film, "The Darwin Awards," was scheduled to premiere Wednesday at the Sundance Film Festival.

Oh wow...... that's just....... wow.

Only 40. wow. Very sad. Very sad.

That's so sad!!! He was a good actor, and I'm sure that his brother, Sean, is just devestated, and beside himself. I wonder what happened... if it was natural causes, or if his death was aided by substances.

Reservoir Dogs ruled. Chris Penn ruled, too. Sucks. RIP man.

-HECK!

I was surpised that he died, I'm wondering if it's his health or was it substance abuse. I'm wondering what we'll find out, I surely hope it's not substance abuse because that always tends to leave a sour note to one's death. It also makes the irony meter go of the scale for me because of his recent film. "The Darwin Awards."

Dying from a drug overdose is a stupid way to die in my eyes. But we'll have to see what the autopsy says.

He was a big dude, but whenever it's a celebrity, more often than not some kind of drug abuse is involved. Sad to say, but it's true.

-HECK!

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The cause of actor Chris Penn's death remained undetermined after an autopsy, and the coroner's office has ordered blood toxicology tests.

Penn, the brother of Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn and musician Michael, was found dead Tuesday in his Santa Monica condominium.

The toxicology test is "just normal procedure for someone who's 40 and has not seen their doctor," coroner's spokeswoman Brenda Shafer said Wednesday.

Penn's latest film, "The Darwin Awards," in which he appears with Winona Ryder and Joseph Fiennes, premiered later in the day at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

"He gave an incredible performance in the film," writer-director Finn Taylor said before the screening. "I think he is going to be remembered for years to come and we will miss him."

Chris Penn appeared in numerous films, including "Reservoir Dogs," "Starsky & Hutch," "Rush Hour" and "Corky Romano."

"Corky" star Chris Kattan described Penn's death as "a huge shock."

"He was an amazing actor and a great comedian," Kattan said. "He was such a sweet soul and so funny. He had a really great innocence in his eyes. Of course he'll be terribly missed."

Sean Penn's publicist, Mara Buxbaum, issued a statement Tuesday saying the Penn family "would appreciate the media's respect of their privacy during this difficult time." She released no further comment.

Penn's agent, Cary Berman of the William Morris Agency, referred calls to Buxbaum. Penn's manager, Jonathan Brandstein, did not return a call for comment.

Although he was not as well known as his brother Sean, 45, critics said he often was underrated.

"Just as talented as Sean -- just a lot less cocky," Slate magazine critic Cintra Wilson wrote of him last year. He "makes you seamlessly believe in characters so much you barely even notice them."

I wanted to see the Darwin Awards from the moment I heard they were making a movie based on the awards.... It's gonna be so cool.

It is going to be a funny ass movie... and something so fitting of Chris.

Can't wait for the toxiolgy reports. I just hope that it wasn't drugs!