Topline
Kal Penn, the actor best known for his role in the Harold & Kumar films who also worked in the Obama administration, publicly came out for the first time Sunday while promoting his new memoir, announcing his engagement to his partner of 11 years.
Kal Penn at Build Studio in New York on March 11, 2020. (Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
During a wide-ranging interview with CBS Sunday Morning’s Luke Burbank, Penn, 44, spoke about the “matter-of-fact” way he writes about his relationship in the book, You Can’t Be Serious, as well as his early love of acting and his family’s history of public service going back to his grandparents marching with Gandhi in support of Indian independence.
Penn confirmed his engagement to People magazine, saying he was “really excited” to share the news of his relationship with Josh, whose last name has not been shared.
The New Jersey native has acted for years, including in the Harold & Kumar films and on the show Designated Survivor, but also made headlines when he took a two-year sabbatical to join the Obama White House’s Office of Public Engagement, where he worked as a liaison with young Americans and members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Crucial Quote
“When you’re the son of Indian immigrants who says that you want to be an actor, the chaos that that creates in your family and your community will trump anything else always,” Penn joked in the CBS interview. He told People, “I discovered my own sexuality relatively late in life compared to many other people. There’s no timeline on this stuff. People figure their shit out at different times in their lives, so I’m glad I did when I did.”
What To Watch For
You Can’t Be Serious will be published Tuesday by Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Penn also stars alongside comedians Tituss Burgess and Lilly Singh in the film Hot Mess Holiday, which premieres in December.
Further Reading
“Kal Penn on his unlikely stardom” (CBS News)
“Kal Penn Reveals He’s Engaged to Fiancé Josh and Details Their First Date in New Book” (People)
“Kal Penn Reveals He’s Engaged to Longtime Partner Josh” (Hollywood Reporter)
“Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Kal Penn’s Holiday Films to Premiere in December on Comedy Central” (Variety)
“Kal Penn Isn’t Making a Political Point with His Immigration Sitcom” (New York Times)
“Kal Penn: From White Castle to the White House” (Washington Post)