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43-year old Chris Penn was found dead in his Santa Monica apartment today. What killed Nice Guy Eddie Cabot? Nobody's saying. All that's been reported so far is "no signs of foul play." (update: Tuesday night, according to imdb, he was born in 1962. Now it's been changed to say 1965. Maybe he was just 40 after all).
We always had a soft spot for Sean's younger (but not little) brother. How do you follow in the footsteps of the man who wants to be the Brando of his generation? Chris never got the kind of focused attention his brother did — although this registration-required 2004 Salon tribute tries to even the scales. He worked with some amazing directors (Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Barbet Schroeder, Quentin Tarantino), in what weren't always their best movies. Except for Tarantino's: Chris Penn will probably be best remembered for his role in Reservoir Dogs.
Instead, we'll remember Kevin Bacon teaching him to dance in Footloose. In silhoutte. To "Let's Hear It For The Boy."
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Personal story: After moving to LA in 1995, Chris Penn was my first "star" sighting.
I was walking down Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, and being that it was high school, I was smoking a clove cigarette (and probably talking about Sartre, or Ayn Rand). Penn approached me, and asked if he could bum a cigarette.
I instantly recognized him from Reservoir Dogs, and agreed happily. He told me he had never smoked a clove before and asked what it was -- and if it was legal.
And then he tried to pay me for it.
Seriously, he offered me two bucks. I said 'thanks but no thanks', he tried to insist, and I politely declined again. We chatted for about 5 minutes about nothing, and then we both went on our merry ways.
Not only a nice welcome to La-la Land, but also a genuinely nice human interaction, anywhere.
He seemed like SUCH a great guy. His performance in the movie Short Cuts is ASTOUNDING. He really was as good an actor as Sean, just less cocky and self promotional. He was the antithesis of his brother...nice, never promoted himself, NEVER hammed up a role the way Sean will do all the time to the point of mockery. He seemed like a really humble shy great guy. His brother could have used lessons from him with the way Sean fake sulks and begs to be the next Brando but clearly never will be.
Let's hear it for the boy! We will never stop loving the dance lesson and the finished product in Footloose. The beefier Chris of " S& H" and "Wong Foo.." offered more to hug. God Bless
Aww man....such a shame, who could forget that shell-suit and clunky gold jewelry from Reservoir Dogs? Yet again, one of the good guys dies young. Rest in peace Chris.
Rest in peace Chris.You will be missed very much by all who love your work and may the lord keep you and bring you peace in his kindom.I will always have a place for you in my heart..Richard Tassey
I first met late Chris Penn in a Beverly Hills disco in 1995 and it was a kinda persian owned or operated club & disco and I believe it was located on beverly drive ! he was sitting with some friends and one of the guy he was with was veteran actor Gary Busey and it was a fun night I didn`t see where Chris went later but I saw Mr Gary Busey leaving the club early morning with a female friend !
I was in Japan when I heard the sad passing of Chris Penn and I really ,really felt very sad and I could feel brother Sean Penn and the whole Penn family and their pain ! Chris Penn was not Sean Penn he was himself and a great actor But I guess sometimes we dont appreciate people who are shy and not show off type like Chris Penn ! Rest in Peace Chris , you `ll always be in L.A and walk down the ocean avenue.
peace !