Richard Penn is an American television and film actor, notable for playing minor roles, often portraying strict but reassuring characters, such as doctors, police officers and lawyers.

Among his film credits are minor roles in Sleepwalkers, the 1998 adaption of Doctor Dolittle, and the 1999 live version of Inspector Gadget.

On TV, Penn has played supporting characters in episodes of The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Melrose Place, Murphy Brown, ER, The Practice, Moesha, Malcolm in the Middle, Ally McBeal, The West Wing, JAG, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, The Bold and the Beautiful, Joan of Arcadia, Desperate Housewives and other series.