Autopsy to determine cause of Penn death

• Tweet

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- An autopsy will determine what killed actor Chris Penn, who was found dead at his Santa Monica, Calif., condo at age 40.

Foul play was not suspected and the coronor's office said it appeared the hefty actor died Tuesday of natural causes, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. Police were called to his home around 4 p.m., PST by a housekeeper who discovered the actor dead in his bed.

The younger brother of actor Sean Penn was best known for his regular-guy type roles in a career spanning two decades.

Among his film credits were "Footloose," "Rumblefish," "All the Right Moves," "Reservoir Dogs," Starsky & Hutch" and "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang."

A Slate magazine critic described Penn last year as: "Just as talented as Sean -- just a lot less cocky."

Penn is survived by brothers Sean and Michael and his mother, Eileen Ryan.