What happened to Kutner on House, M.D.? Explained

The decision to kill off Kutner
The decision to kill off Kutner's character was due to actor Kal Penn leaving the show (Image via Instagram/@kalpenn)

House, M.D. was a popular medical drama show that aired on Fox for eight seasons from 2004 to 2012. The show, created by David Shore, was about Dr. Gregory House, played by Hugh Laurie, and his team of diagnosticians at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey.

Throughout its eight seasons, House, M.D. won awards and got tons of critical praise, including Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nods. The show has an 8.7/10 on IMDB and a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, proving it's a fan favorite and a top medical drama on TV.

One of the main characters in House, M.D. was Dr. Lawrence Kutner, played by actor Kal Penn. Kutner joined the team of young doctors in season 4, trying to land a spot on House's diagnostic team. His unexpected suicide in season 5 came as a shock to everyone watching.


Why was Kutner, played by Kal Penn killed off in House, M.D.?

Kal Penn was on House, M.D. as Kutner, and when his character unexpectedly died by suicide in season 5, it caught everyone off guard. Turns out, Penn left to work for the Obama administration, so the writers decided to have Kutner go out in a more dramatic fashion rather than just quitting.

Kutner's death hit the other characters hard and tied into the show's theme of mysteries that can't always be solved. The writers of House, M.D. intentionally left his suicide open-ended to show how complicated the issue is.

Even though it was a surprise, it was a realistic way to deal with the actor leaving the show and added to the exploration of tough topics in the series.

Taub was shaken up and upset by Kutner's death, he couldn't hold back the tears at the funeral. Being a close friend of Kutner's, Taub had a tough time dealing with the loss.

Thirteen, who was close with Kutner, seemed pretty shaken up. She started to withdraw and make some unusual mistakes at work. Her grief was showing through in her risky behavior.

Foreman was thrown off by Kutner's death, even though he usually kept his cool. He led the investigation but struggled to keep his usual calm attitude as he tried to understand what happened. He was set on finding answers, but in the end, he had to come to terms with the fact that there weren't any.

House was shaken up by Kutner's suicide, more so than he had been by other patients or coworkers passing away. He couldn't stop thinking about what he might have missed that could have changed things. This whole situation threw him off and made him doubt his skills as a doctor.


Is Kutner on House, M.D. Indian?

Kutner, the character played by Kal Penn on House, M.D., wasn't specifically mentioned as Indian, but Kal Penn's background suggests he has Indian roots. Kal Penn, originally named Kalpen Suresh Modi, grew up in Montclair, New Jersey with his parents who immigrated from India.

His dad, Suresh Modi, is an engineer, while his mom, Asmita Bhatt, has a master's in chemistry and used to evaluate fragrances. Penn has a strong connection to his Indian roots, having spent childhood vacations in Gujarat and picking up Gujarati and Hindi along the way.


The series is available on Prime Video, Peacock, and Hulu.

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Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma
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