Politics | Kal Penn 'Kumar' Begins White House Outreach Gig Thespian won't accept acting gigs for a year or two while he focuses on politics By Nick McMaster Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:50 PM CDT Copied Actor Kal Penn, left, stands with Michael Strautmanis, Assistant to the President, center, and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, at the White House Easter Egg Roll, Monday, April 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) Kal Penn began work at the White House today, the Washington Post reports. The Harold and Kumar star, who later appeared on House, is the new associate director of the White House's Office of Public Engagement. Penn, 31, has committed to the job for a year or two, meaning he doesn't plan to take any acting gigs during that time. Read These Next In this murder, arresting the boyfriend was a big mistake. Sammy Davis Jr.'s ex, Swedish actor May Britt, is dead at 91. Online sleuths expose Epstein file redactions. Bizarre video shows thieves pulling an ATM out of store with SUV. Report an error