Actor Chris Penn's sudden death ruled accidental

Chris Penn

LOS ANGELES - The sudden death in January of actor Chris Penn, the younger brother of Oscar winner Sean Penn, has been ruled accidental by coroners who said he had an enlarged heart and had taken multiple medications.

Penn was found dead in January at his home in the beach city of Santa Monica. He weighed more than 300 pounds and Los Angeles County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said at the time he also had a history of drug abuse.

The coroner's office said in a statement that the primary cause of Penn's death was "nonspecific cardiomyopathy," or an enlarged heart, with the "effects of multiple medication intake." The medications were not specified and Penn's death was declared accidental. An autopsy had previously ruled out foul play or suicide.

Penn, 40, was a character actor specializing in blue-collar tough guy roles. He appeared in "Reservoir Dogs" and co-starred with his brother in the 1986 film "At Close Range," but his career was overshadowed by Sean Penn, who won a best actor Oscar in 2003 for his role in "Mystic River".

Sean Penn issued a statement last month asking for privacy following the sudden death and the family has made little comment since.

- REUTERS