Tragic news struck the entertainment industry as actor Chris Penn, brother of renowned actor Sean Penn, was discovered dead in his Santa Monica condominium.
The Santa Monica police made the grim discovery at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Lieutenant Frank Fabrega confirmed that there were no apparent signs of foul play, although autopsy results were still pending.
Chris Penn was 40 years old according to the police, but some celebrity websites list his age as 43.
In light of this devastating loss, the Penn family has requested privacy during this challenging time.
Authorities from the county coroner's office revealed that Chris Penn's lifeless body was found in a bed within his first-floor residence, situated in a four-story complex near the picturesque Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.
The housekeeper alerted the authorities, prompting their immediate response to the scene.
Actor Martin Sheen was seen leaving the condominium complex from a rear exit later that night, accompanied by two older women but declining to comment.
Chris Penn's acting credits boast an impressive portfolio, including roles in movies such as “Mulholland Falls,” “Rumble Fish,” “All the Right Moves,” “Footloose,” and “Rush Hour.”
Notably, he portrayed Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed crime drama “Reservoir Dogs” in 1992.
Despite not receiving the same level of recognition and accolades as his brother Sean, critics have often praised Chris Penn's talent, asserting that he was frequently underrated.
Slate magazine critic Cintra Wilson wrote of him last year, stating that he was “just as talented as Sean, but a lot less cocky.”
Wilson further commended Penn's ability to effortlessly immerse audiences in his characters.
In honor of his memorable performance in “Reservoir Dogs,” a bar called “Nice Guy Eddie's” was named after Penn's character.
During the bar's opening, Penn attended and interacted effortlessly with patrons, leaving a lasting impression.
David McWater, the bar owner and an acquaintance of the actor, shared that Penn was approachable, down-to-earth, and never tried to exude a star persona.
Chris Penn hails from a prominent showbiz family.
His brother Sean, an Oscar-winning actor, has been married to actress Robin Wright Penn for ten years.
Prior to that, he was famously wedded to Madonna.
Michael Penn, another brother of Chris, is a musician who is married to singer Aimee Mann.
Their parents are actress Eileen Ryan, known for her roles in “Parenthood,” and the late Leo Penn, a prolific director who faced blacklisting during the Red Scare in the 1950s.
Leo Penn's directing credits include popular TV shows like “77 Sunset Strip,” “Bonanza,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Ben Casey,” “Alfred Hitchcock,” “The Fugitive,” “Lost in Space,” “Ironside,” “Marcus Welby,” “Columbo,” “Hart to Hart,” “Matlock,” and ”
