Chris Penn, actor, brother of Sean Penn

LOS ANGELES -- Actor Chris Penn, brother of Sean Penn, was found dead yesterday at a condominium near the beach in Santa Monica, police said.

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

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."

Mr. Penn's body was found inside the four-story condominium complex.

An autopsy will be conducted, authorities said.

Chris Penn's credits included ''Mulholland Falls," ''Rumble Fish," ''All the Right Moves," ''Starsky and Hutch," and ''Rush Hour."

In one of his best-known roles, he played baby-faced criminal Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in director Quentin Tarantino's ''Reservoir Dogs."

He also starred along with his brother in the 1986 film ''At Close Range."

On television, he was a leading character in the short-lived CBS series ''The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.," in 2003.

His late father, Leo, 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.

Mr. Penn started acting in his teens. One of his first major roles was in 1984's ''Footloose," with Kevin Bacon.

Mr. Penn's latest film, ''The Darwin Awards," was scheduled to premiere today at the Sundance Film Festival.