The Resume

(August 27, 1921-September 5, 1998)
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Actor turned director
Appeared in the films 'Undercover Man' (1949), 'Not Wanted' (1949), 'The Story on Page One' (1959), 'Sixth and Main' (1977) and 'The Crossing Guard' (1995)
Directed episodes of 'Ben Casey,' 'Star Trek,' 'Bonanza,' 'Marcus Welby, M.D.,' 'Kojak,' 'Trapper John, M.D.' and 'Magnum, P.I.'
Father of Sean, Chris and Michael Penn

Why he might be annoying:

He is better remembered for his famous sons than his achievements.
He claimed he got his first Hollywood contract because 'Alan Ladd, who was a short actor, refused to do a movie, [so] they signed me, another short actor, as a threat.'
He said of his move to directing, 'I looked young for my age and I was tired of being cast as baby-faced killers.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a bombadier in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He was blacklisted for supporting trade unions and the Hollywood Ten.
He won an Emmy for directing an episode of Columbo (1973).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Actors Turned Directors
• Blacklisted
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 27]
• I Attended UCLA
• I Died in 1998 (Ranked: 77)
• I Have Lung Cancer
• I'm Buried at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Cemetery [Culver City, Ca]
• Penn Family
• Profiles 28001-28250 (Ranked: 28211)
• Served in World War II

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 24 Votes: 75.00% Annoying