Dr. Lawrence Kutner is a fictional character from the medical drama House, portrayed by Kal Penn. Kutner joined House’s diagnostic team in the fourth season and was known for his enthusiasm, risk-taking nature, and science fiction interests. He tragically committed suicide in season 5, leaving fans puzzled. This unexpected death was a result of Kal Penn’s departure from the show to work in the White House. Kal Penn, born Kalpen Suresh Modi, is an American actor known for various roles in TV and film, including his portrayal of Kutner in House, Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar series, and Seth Wright in Designated Survivor. Additionally, Penn briefly served in the Obama administration before returning to his acting career.
Kutner’s Role in House MD
Dr. Lawrence Kutner was one of the new fellows hired by Dr. Gregory House at the end of the episode “Games” in Season 4 of the Fox medical drama House. He was a specialist in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
Kutner is shown to be open-minded about any new experience, which is the reason he wanted to join House’s new team. He was originally #6 during the games, but was fired in his first appearance for reporting Amber Volakis’s recording of patient information. However, he continued to work even after being “fired” by House by flipping his #6 into a #9 and refusing to leave. He then came up with a clever stress test for a patient’s liver, using alcohol to intoxicate the patient, which impressed House enough to keep him on.
Of all the new fellows, Kutner was the most enthusiastic and the one most likely to go along with House in taking risks, including illegal activities. He was also the only fellow who seemed to not only not mind but to enjoy the crazy tasks that House sent him on. In “Guardian Angels”, he not only enthusiastically dug up a grave, but broke into the casket and expressed dismay when he realized the deceased had been buried the wrong way around.
During his season and a half on House M.D., Kutner became one of the most popular characters and at the time of his death appeared to be the brightest and most talented of the fellows in the field of diagnostic medicine, coming up with numerous good ideas and correct diagnoses during his tenure. He was also the only fellow who seemed to not only not mind but to enjoy the crazy tasks that House sent him on.
In his interactions with patients, Kutner was understanding and kind towards others. In “The Itch”, Kutner’s advice on being honest with the patient caused the patient to allow the team into his house. In “Emancipation”, Kutner was able to identify with the patient when he believed that she had lost her parents. Kutner’s kindness was further shown when House cheats in Secret Santa, he states, “I’m still getting him a present,” even though other members of the team object to this idea.
The Shocking Death
Account of the Episode “Simple Explanation”
“Simple Explanation” is the 20th episode of the fifth season of House, which first aired on April 6, 2009. The episode begins with Charlotte, an older woman who has spent the last six months taking care of her dying husband Eddie, being rushed to Princeton Plainsboro after collapsing from respiratory failure. As the team takes Charlotte’s case, Kutner fails to show up for work. Thirteen and Foreman go to his apartment and find him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The team must then try to save Charlotte while struggling to make sense of Kutner’s death.
Impact of Kutner’s Death on Other Characters and the Storyline
Kutner’s suicide was intentionally left unexplained, reflecting the show’s theme of complex, unsolvable medical mysteries tackled by Dr. House. His death had a profound impact on the other characters and the storyline. The team each grieved in their own way, but Taub seemed surprisingly blasé about the event, and House was convinced it must have been murder. House, Thirteen, and Foreman go to see Kutner’s parents, but House blames the parents and leaves. Taub seems to show little interest in Kutner’s death. Cuddy tells the team she’s hired a grief counselor and offers them time off. She then goes to talk to Wilson, who hasn’t been with House yet. Wilson goes with House to Kutner’s home. House looks around and finally suspects that someone murdered Kutner. House suspects it was the same person who killed Kutner’s birth parents. House eventually realizes Charlotte feigned her illness, but then her liver fails. Thirteen does an MRI on her, but her spleen ruptures in the middle of it. House thinks she could have Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, so Thirteen and Taub run her AAT proteins. Foreman takes time off. Her proteins come back normal. She then tries to take her own life by overdosing so that Eddie can have her heart. The team manages to stabilize Charlotte, but the drugs she took damaged her liver. House gets Cameron to convince Eddie to do a partial liver transplant. With his failing heart, he’s bound to die on the table. Then they can give his whole liver to Charlotte, which is what she needs, not part of one. House gets Cameron to convince Eddie to do this. He wants to say goodbye to her, but Cameron notes she would never agree to this if she knew what would happen. As Eddie signs off on the transplant, Cameron notices nodules on Eddie’s fingers, which could indicate that his condition might be curable. Meanwhile, House finds out that the murderer of Kutner’s birth parents died of an aneurysm two months before.
The Real Reason Behind Kutner’s Suicide
The real reason behind Dr. Lawrence Kutner’s suicide on House M.D. was actor Kal Penn’s decision to leave the show. Penn was offered a position as associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement in early 2009. The job offer was the ultimate reason he broke his House M.D. contract, which led to a difficult conversation with the showrunners. Penn recalled that his co-star Olivia Wilde invited him to an event for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama during the 2007 Democratic primaries. Attending the event changed his mind about getting involved in politics. He was enamored enough by Obama’s campaign that he decided to serve in the White House.
Handling Penn’s Departure: Making Kutner’s Suicide a Mystery
The showrunners decided to handle Penn’s departure by making Kutner’s suicide a mystery. Kutner’s suicide was intentionally left unexplained, reflecting the show’s theme of complex, unsolvable medical mysteries tackled by Dr. House. After Kutner fails to show up for work, Thirteen and Foreman go to his apartment and find him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Ultimately, Dr. House learns to accept that Kutner killed himself and there may never be a real explanation for it. This unexpected and shocking death left fans wondering why Kutner killed himself. The abrupt and shocking nature of Kutner’s death was a result of Penn’s sudden decision to leave the show.
Kal Penn’s Departure from House MD
Kal Penn made the decision to leave the show for a unique opportunity – a position at the White House. Penn was offered a position as associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement in early 2009. This job offer was the ultimate reason he broke his House M.D. contract, leading to a difficult conversation with the showrunners.
Penn’s interest in politics was sparked during the 2007 Democratic primaries. His co-star Olivia Wilde invited him to an event for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama. Although Penn had read Obama’s book, he wasn’t initially interested in getting involved in politics. However, attending the event changed his mind. He was enamored enough by Obama’s campaign that he decided to serve in the White House.
In his new role, Penn worked as a liaison within the arts and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Despite leaving House M.D., his resignation from the White House led him back to more acting opportunities. His decision to leave the show was a significant one, as it not only impacted his career but also the storyline of House M.D.
