Chris Penn Found Dead

Reservoir Dogs star Chris Penn, the younger brother of Sean Penn, was found dead in his Santa Monica condominium Tuesday.

The 40-year-old actor's body was discovered in bed around 4 p.m. by his housekeeper, who called authorities to the scene. Police said there were no obvious signs of foul play.

An autopsy was conducted Wednesday, and the preliminary results suggest the actor died from accidental or natural causes, according to Los Angeles coroner's spokesman David Smith. Without elaborating, Smith said the preliminary finding was based in part on Penn suffering from an illness and using drugs in the past. The official cause of death won't be known for about six weeks, when toxicology tests come back.

Sean Penn's publicist issued a brief statement stating that the Penn family "would appreciate the media's respect of their privacy during this difficult time."

Chris Penn began his acting career in the 1970s and appeared in more than 70 films and television shows over the years. With his stocky build and average joe looks, he didn't fit the stereotypical image of a Hollywood movie star, but showcased his talent by playing a series of regular guys, often with a penchant for criminal behavior.

He was, a critic once opined, "just as talented as Sean--just a lot less cocky."

That lack of swagger in his step may have earned Penn less recognition than his Oscar-winning older brother, but did not take away from his abilities before the camera.

Penn was probably best known for playing Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. The creepy yet comic demeanor with which he infused the role earned him positive reviews from critics, as well as the attention of a New York City bar owner, who christened his tavern Nice Guy Eddie's in honor of Penn's character.

Some of his more notable work included a lead role in 1983's Rumble Fish, alongside Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke and Diane Lane, and a second collaboration with Tarantino in 1993's True Romance, with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. He also appeared in Mulholland Falls, All the Right Moves, Footloose and Rush Hour.

In 1986, he starred alongside Sean and their mother, actress Eileen Ryan, in the true-crime drama At Close Range. He shared the Golden Globe award for Best Ensemble Cast for 1993's Short Cuts.

He had turned to the small screen in recent years, starring in David E. Kelley's short-lived CBS dramedy The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire, which ran for five episodes during the 2003 season. He also had a high-profile cameo as himself on HBO's Entourage last season.

After learning of Penn's death, Charlie Sheen issued a statement in remembrance of his lifelong friend.

"Chris was a good and decent man," Sheen stated. "A talent sometimes too bright for either screen. The best friend a guy could ever hope for, and I loved him."

Penn's latest film, The Darwin Awards, also starring Winona Ryder and Joseph Fiennes, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Wednesday.

After the film's screening, Ryder spoke about her costar during a question-and-answer session.

"I really hope people go back and watch his movies, because he was such a fantastic actor, and he is going to be so missed," Ryder said. "Not just Sean Penn's little brother, you know? He was Chris Penn."

Born in California in 1965, Penn was the son of Ryan and the late Leo Penn, a television director who died in 1998. His other brother, Michael, is a musician and actor.