Kal Penn was played a terrorist on “24,” a brilliant young doctor on “House,” a conflicted Indian American man in “The Namesake,” a hilarious stoner in the “Harold & Kumar” franchise and lead roles in two “Van Wilder” frat comedies. He has also held high-profile posts in the Obama White House.

But now the actor is readying a return to television. Penn has taken on a major recurring role on the CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother,” as Kevin, the love interest for Cobie Smulders’ lovelorn Robin.

For the past two years, Penn served as the White House’s associate director in the office of public liaison; he will leave the White House later this month but will continue to help President Obama in his reelection campaign for 2012.

“How I Met Your Mother” kicks off its seventh season Sept. 19. Penn will appear on the big screen in “A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas” in December, and “Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain” next year.

In related news,reported that a man convicted of robbing Penn in Washington, D.C., in 2010 was sentenced July 21 to three years of probation.Penn had been walking alone on the 1500 block of S Street N.W. when he was accosted by two men. One was armed and ordered Penn to the ground and stole his wallet and cell phones.