Chris Penn
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:51:28 PM Wikipedia source
Christopher Shannon Penn (October 10, 1965 – January 24, 2006) was an American actor. He was the younger brother of both actor and filmmaker Sean Penn and musician Michael Penn. Noted as a skilled character actor, he was typically cast as a tough character, featured as a villain or a working-class thug, or in a comic role. 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).
Infobox
Born
Christopher Shannon Penn(1965-10-10)October 10, 1965Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died
January 24, 2006(2006-01-24) (aged 40)Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S.
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1978–2006
Partner
Steffiana De La Cruz (1993–1999)
Parents
mw- Leo Penn (father)Eileen Ryan (mother)
Relatives
Michael Penn (brother)Sean Penn (brother)Dylan Penn (niece)Hopper Penn (nephew)
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1979
Charlie and the Talking Buzzard
Role(s)
Pete
Notes
Credited as Christopher Penn (debut role)
1983
Nobody's Heroes
Role(s)
N/A
Notes
Director/Producer/Writer
1984
1989
1991
Future Kick
Role(s)
'Bang'
1993
Role(s)
Floyd
Role(s)
Gregory Stone
Role(s)
Jerry Kaiser
Role(s)
Detective Nicky Dimes
Role(s)
Derek Baxter
Role(s)
Floyd
1995
Role(s)
'Jackal'
Role(s)
Sheriff Dollard
Role(s)
'Turk' Dickson
Sacred Cargo
Role(s)
Vince Kanevsky
1996
Role(s)
Charles Goodnight
Role(s)
Detective Arthur Relyea
Role(s)
Luke
1998
Papertrail
Role(s)
FBI Agent Jason Enola
Role(s)
Duke Finnerly
Role(s)
Clive
Family Attraction
Role(s)
Father
Notes
Short film
2002
Role(s)
Ray
Redemption
Role(s)
Tony Leggio
Notes
Direct-to-video
Role(s)
David Loach
2003
Role(s)
Crew Guy #2
Shelter Island
Role(s)
Sheriff DeLuca
2006
Juarez: Stages of Fear
Role(s)
Unknown Role
Notes
Direct-to-video; posthumous release, also executive producer
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | Charlie and the Talking Buzzard | Pete | Credited as Christopher Penn (debut role) |
| 1983 | All the Right Moves | Brian Riley | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| Rumble Fish | Jackson | Credited as Christopher Penn | |
| Nobody's Heroes | N/A | Director/Producer/Writer | |
| 1984 | Footloose | Willard Hewitt | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| The Wild Life | Tom Drake | Credited as Christopher Penn | |
| 1985 | Pale Rider | Josh LaHood | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| 1986 | At Close Range | Tommy | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| 1987 | Made in U.S.A. | Tuck | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| 1989 | Return from the River Kwai | Lieutenant Crawford | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| Best of the Best | Travis Brickley | Credited as Christopher Penn | |
| 1991 | Mobsters | Tommy Reina | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| Leather Jackets | Steve 'Big Steve' | Credited as Christopher Penn | |
| Future Kick | 'Bang' | ||
| 1992 | Reservoir Dogs | Eddie 'Nice Guy Eddie' Cabot | |
| 1993 | Best of the Best II | Travis Brickley | Credited as Christopher Penn |
| The Music of Chance | Floyd | ||
| The Pickle | Gregory Stone | ||
| Short Cuts | Jerry Kaiser | ||
| True Romance | Detective Nicky Dimes | ||
| Josh and S.A.M. | Derek Baxter | ||
| Beethoven's 2nd | Floyd | ||
| 1994 | Imaginary Crimes | Jarvis | |
| 1995 | Fist of the North Star | 'Jackal' | |
| To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar | Sheriff Dollard | ||
| Under the Hula Moon | 'Turk' Dickson | ||
| Sacred Cargo | Vince Kanevsky | ||
| 1996 | Dead Man's Walk | Charles Goodnight | |
| Mulholland Falls | Detective Arthur Relyea | ||
| The Funeral | 'Chez' | Nominated – Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead | |
| The Boys Club | Luke | ||
| 1997 | Deceiver | Detective Philip Braxton | |
| 1998 | Papertrail | FBI Agent Jason Enola | |
| One Tough Cop | Duke Finnerly | ||
| Rush Hour | Clive | ||
| Family Attraction | Father | Short film | |
| 1999 | The Florentine | Bobby | |
| 2000 | Cement | Bill Holt | |
| 2001 | Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) | Bubba | |
| Corky Romano | Peter Romano | ||
| 2002 | Murder by Numbers | Ray | |
| Redemption | Tony Leggio | Direct-to-video | |
| Stealing Harvard | David Loach | ||
| 2003 | American Pie: Beneath the Crust Vol. 2 | Stiffler's Dad | Deleted scenes |
| Masked and Anonymous | Crew Guy | ||
| Shelter Island | Sheriff DeLuca | ||
| 2004 | Starsky & Hutch | Manetti | |
| After the Sunset | Rowdy Fan | ||
| 2006 | The Darwin Awards | Tom Andy | Posthumous release |
· Filmography › Television
1982
Role(s)
Wounded Soldier in Vietnam
Notes
Episode: "Heal Thyself"; credited as Christopher Penn
1985
North Beach and Rawhide
Role(s)
Dan Donnelly
Notes
TV movie
1987
Role(s)
Will Tussennbrook
Notes
Episode: "Rip Van Winkle"; credited as Christopher Penn
2003
2005
| 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 | '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" |
· Filmography › Music videos
| 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 |
· Filmography › Video games
2021
Role(s)
Archival recordingsRemaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Officer Edward "Eddie" Pulaski | |
| 2021 | Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition | Archival recordingsRemaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only |
References
- The Independenthttps://web.archive.org/web/20060203094602/http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article341030.ece
- San Francisco Chroniclehttps://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/APPRECIATION-Let-us-praise-Chris-Penn-in-all-2523552.php
- The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeleshttp://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=11929
- Sean Penn: His Life and Timeshttps://books.google.com/books?id=5omJUX4YRuEC
- Martial Arts & Action Entertainmenthttps://www.martialartsentertainment.com/chris-penn/
- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252866/alternateversions
- Surf Santa Monicahttps://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2006/January-2006/01_25_06_Actor_Chris_Penn_Found_Dead.htm
- HowStuffWorkshttps://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/death-dying/10-stars-and-their-toxicology-report.htm
- Peoplehttps://people.com/celebrity/drugs-in-chris-penns-system-toxicologist/
- Peoplehttps://people.com/celebrity/sean-penn-chriss-weight-killed-him/
- UPIhttps://www.upi.com/Photographer-disrupts-Chris-Penn-funeral/95721139151277/