Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Goodbye Chris Penn
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."
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
