Actor Chris Penn Found Dead - Variety

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Jan 24, 2006 9:00pm PT Actor Chris Penn found dead

Cause of death accidental

By Variety Staff

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Updated March 21, 2006

Actor Chris Penn, brother of Sean Penn, was found dead Jan. 24 in his Santa Monica condominium. He was 43.

Cause of death was ruled to be accidental due to the condition of an enlarged heart complicated by multiple medication intake.

The burly thesp grew up in Malibu and started acting as a teen. His first film credit came in “Rumble Fish,” and he went on to appear in dozens of films including “Mulholland Falls,” “All the Right Moves,” “Footloose” and “Rush Hour.” In 1986, he appeared with his brother Sean and mother Eileen Ryan in “At Close Range.”

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He also played Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino crime drama “Reservoir Dogs.”

Penn had a recurring role in series “The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire” and also appeared on shows including “Seinfeld,” “Will & Grace” and “Entourage.” His latest roles were in Sundance pic “The Darwin Awards” and upcoming films “King of Sorrow” and “Aftermath.”

He is survived by Sean; his brother Michael, a musician; and his mother. His father Leo, a director, died in 1998.

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