Actor Chris Penn found dead

Los Angeles – Actor Chris Penn, brother of Sean Penn, was found dead Tuesday at a condominium near the beach in Santa Monica, police said.

Police said they discovered the 40-year-old actor’s body about 4 p.m. Lt. Frank Fabrega said there were no obvious signs of foul play.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, authorities said.

Sean Penn’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, issued a statement saying that “the Penn family would appreciate the media’s respect of their privacy during this difficult time.”

Chris Penn’s credits included “Mulholland Falls,” “Rumble Fish,” “All the Right Moves,” “Footloose” and “Rush Hour.” He also played Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino crime drama “Reservoir Dogs.”

His late father, Leo Penn, directed television shows. His mother, Eileen Ryan, is an actress whose credits include “I Am Sam,” “Magnolia” and “Parenthood.” Another brother is musician Michael Penn.

Chris Penn’s latest film, “The Darwin Awards,” was scheduled to premiere today at the Sundance Film Festival.

NBC drops ‘Book of Daniel’

Los Angeles – NBC has closed “The Book of Daniel” after less than a month, dropping a show that conservative Christians had deemed blasphemous.

The series starred Aidan Quinn as an Episcopal priest with a pill habit who talks to Jesus, has a promiscuous son and whose daughter deals marijuana.

Seven NBC network affiliates refused to air it and it suffered low ratings.

NBC on Tuesday stopped short of saying the show was canceled but said it had been dropped from its schedule.

The show’s creator and executive producer, Jack Kenny, has said his goal was to depict how “humor and grace” help a flawed man struggle with his faith and family. He said the writers never meant to mock religion or Jesus.

Messiah complex?

New York – To be sure, he’s making a statement.

Kanye West, with a crown of thorns atop his head, poses as Jesus Christ on the cover of the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone.

The outspoken rapper defends his brash attitude inside the magazine’s pages, on newsstands Friday. He is also pictured posing as Muhammad Ali.

“In America, they want you to accomplish these great feats, to pull off these David Copperfield-type stunts,” he says. “You want me to be great, but you don’t ever want me to say I’m great?”

West has always been forthright in saying what he feels, most famously when he said “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” during a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Carmen for the opera

Vienna, Austria – An Austrian playboy who keeps the Viennese in suspense each winter over his date to the lavish Opera Ball says he’s taking former “Baywatch” star Carmen Electra this year.

Vienna businessman Richard Lugner confirmed Tuesday that Electra, who is married to former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro, will be his guest to the Feb. 23 ball, the most prestigious event on Vienna’s society calendar.

Lugner’s past dates have included another ex-“Baywatch” star, Pamela Anderson, actress Andie MacDowell, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, singer-actress-model Grace Jones and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

Tickets to the annual ball cost about $265 and usually sell out months in advance.