Chris Penn

Christopher Shannon Penn, third son of renowned actress Eileen Ryan and director, actor, and writer Leo Penn, is of royal descent. Born on October 10, 1965 in Los Angeles, California, Penn belongs to a distinguished family; his siblings include musician Michael Penn and actor Sean Penn, and his father was from a Lithuanian Jewish/Russian Jewish family, while his mother is of half-Italian and half-Irish descent. Penn set out to follow in his parents' footsteps at a young age, making his onscreen debut at 12 in the Christopher Cain movie, Charlie and the Talking Buzzard (1979). He soon caught the eye of acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola, who cast him in a supporting role in the teen drama Rumble Fish (1983). Despite the movie's failure, Penn's talent was apparent, and he gained further recognition working in films such as Footloose (1984) and At Close Range (1986). He also made multiple appearances on television. Penn's royal lineage and ever-growing list of accomplishments have solidified him as a notable figure in Hollywood history.