Posted Feb 13th 2006 5:38PM by TMZ Staff
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Actor Chris Penn died accidentally from an enlarged heart and the effects of a mix of multiple medications, the county coroner's office said Monday.
"There is absolutely no indication that this is anything but an accident," chief coroner investigator Craig Harvey said.
Penn, 40, the younger brother of Sean Penn, was found dead in his Santa Monica condominium on Jan. 24, but the results of his autopsy and toxicology tests were not released until Monday.
The primary cause of death was "nonspecific cardiomyopathy," an oversized heart, with the "effects of multiple medication intake," according to a statement issued by the coroner's office.
"We know he had several prescriptions, including promethazine with codeine, which featured predominantly in his death," Harvey said.
Click here... it's not over yet
Tags: Chris Penn, ChrisPenn, Died
Posted Feb 6th 2006 6:18PM by TMZ Staff
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the Culver City Police Department is investigating allegations that actor Mark Ruffalo assaulted a photographer and committed theft.
TMZ broke the story about the incident that occurred at Chris Penn's funeral last Saturday. Sean Penn, Chris' brother, allegedly got into an altercation with the photographer and Mark Ruffalo allegedly seized the photographer's video card out of his camera.
Ruffalo, who has appeared in a number of films including 'Just Like Heaven' and 'Collateral,' most recently co-starred with Jennifer Aniston in 'Rumor Has It.'
The photographer went to the Culver City PD after the funeral and filed a criminal complaint.
An official with the Culver City Police Depatment told TMZ that his department has taken note that the photographer was on private property without permission. The incident occurred on the grounds of Holy Cross Cemetary in Culver City, California.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Celebrity Feuds
Tags: Chris Penn, ChrisPenn, funeral, Mark Ruffalo, MarkRuffalo, Sean Penn, SeanPenn
Posted Jan 24th 2006 1:51PM by TMZ Staff
By PAUL CHAVEZ , ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Chris Penn, a younger brother of Sean Penn who played supporting roles in films such as "Reservoir Dogs" and "Starsky & Hutch," was found dead in his Santa Monica home, authorities said. Police do not suspect foul play.
Penn's body was discovered in bed inside the condominium on Ocean Avenue, said Capt. Ed Winter of the county coroner's office. He said the actor's housekeeper called authorities.
There were no obvious signs of foul play, Lt. Frank Fabrega said. Autopsy results were pending. Police said Penn was 40 years old, though several celebrity Web sites list his age as 43.
"The Penn family would appreciate the media's respect of their privacy during this difficult time," Mara Buxbaum, Sean Penn's publicist, said in a statement.
Chris Penn's credits included "Rumble Fish," "All the Right Moves," "Footloose," "Rush Hour," "Corky Romano" and "Starsky & Hutch." He also played Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino crime drama "Reservoir Dogs."
Although he was not as well known as his brother Sean, 45, critics said he often was underrated.
"Just as talented as Sean -- just a lot less cocky," Slate magazine critic Cintra Wilson wrote of him last year. He "makes you seamlessly believe in characters so much you barely even notice them."
Penn's late father, Leo Penn, directed television shows. His mother, Eileen Ryan, is an actress whose credits include "I Am Sam," "Magnolia" and "Parenthood." His brother is musician Michael Penn.
Chris Penn's latest film, "The Darwin Awards," was scheduled to premiere Wednesday at the Sundance Film Festival. The film also stars Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder and David Arquette
Filed under: Movies, The Biz, Life Style
Tags: chris penn, ChrisPenn, dead, sean penn, SeanPenn
