Kumar returns to the White House

Washington (CNN) – Actor turned White House staffer Kal Penn of "Harold and Kumar" fame is returning to Washington for a job at the White House.

Penn, who also goes by his birth name of Kalpen Modi, is returning to the White House Office of Public Engagement as an associate director. He resigned a similar position in June to shoot the third installment of the "Harold and Kumar" series.

"The White House is pleased to have Kalpen Modi join the Office of Public Engagement as an Associate Director," White House spokesman Shin Inouye told CNN. "While OPE works collectively on conducting outreach to the American public and various organizations, he will be the point person for those in the arts, youth, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities."

An early supporter of President Obama's campaign for the presidency, Penn often appeared on the campaign trail on Obama's behalf. He spoke at the same Democratic National Committee rally the president headlined in Los Angeles last month.

During his last stint in Washington, Penn was robbed at gunpoint losing his wallet and cell phone. He was not seriously injured.