April 8 (Bloomberg) -- Actor Kal Penn is taking a job in the Obama administration as a liaison to Asian-American groups, a White House spokesman said.

The Hollywood star, who appeared in Fox TV’s drama “House” and several movies, is joining the White House Office of Public Liaison as a link to Asian-American and Pacific- Islander communities, spokesman Shin Inouye said.

“We call it the front door to the White House,” Inouye said of the job, which publicizes administration activities of interest to various constituencies.

Penn campaigned for Barack Obama and “got to know the president, the staff,” and indicated an interest in joining the administration, Inouye said in a telephone interview today.

Penn, 31, campaigned for Obama mostly on college campuses. In 2008 the actor, who starred in the movie “The Namesake,” taught a course at the University of Pennsylvania on Asian studies, Inouye said. Penn’s parents emigrated from India.

“It’s not like I’m retiring from acting. I certainly intend to come back at some point,” Penn said, according to the BBC. He said he felt a calling to public service.

Penn played Kumar in the movie “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.” Penn’s character in “House” committed suicide in the April 6 episode.

Penn will start his job at the White House as early as next month, Inouye said. An exact date hasn’t been set. Inouye said he didn’t know the salary, though a comparable position last year paid between $41,000 and $91,000, the Associated Press reported.

The actor also will serve as a liaison to the arts community, including the New England Foundation for the Arts and the Southern Arts Federation.

Penn’s length of service is undetermined, Inouye said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Roger Runningen in Washington at rrunningen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: April 8, 2009 10:29 EDT