Kumar Star Robbed at Gunpoint in D.C.

By Stephen M. Silverman

04/20/2010 at 02:35 PM EDT

Harold and Kumar star Kal Penn, who under his real name Kalpen Modi works as an associate director in the White House's Office of Public Engagement, was reportedly robbed at gunpoint in Washington, D.C., at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to the The Washington Post's Reliable Source column.

A D.C. police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the incident as "a basic street robbery," says the newspaper, noting that the department typically does not name or discuss victims. Penn's wallet and other possessions were taken, the official said. The robbery was first reported by TMZ.com.

RELATED: Kumar Goes to the White House!

In his White House position, it is Penn's duty to connect President Barack Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific communities, as well as the art world. Describing his first day on the job, Penn, 32, told PEOPLE last July: "I brushed my teeth, I did floss, I used mouthwash and then I took the bus to work!"

The White House gig is due to end later this year, when Penn leaves to don his Kumar guise once more, for a Harold and Kumar holiday movie.



Calls to Penn's rep were not immediately returned.

See what other readers have to say about this story – or leave a comment of your own