Lawrence Kutner

Lawrence Kutner was one of the new fellows hired by House at the end of the episode Games in Season 4. He was portrayed by actor Kal Penn. He was a specialist in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

In the Season 5 episode "Simple Explanation," Kutner was found dead in his apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. Police deemed his shooting a suicide, but Gregory House felt that his suicide made no sense and, despite all the evidence to the contrary, believed at first that Kutner had been murdered. However it was clear that Kutner was shot with a gun he owned which had his fingerprints on it. He worked for House for about a year and a half.

Kutner returned as House's hallucination in the Season 8 finale.

During his season and a half on House M.D., Kutner became one of the most popular characters and at the time of his death appeared to be the brightest and most talented of the fellows in the field of diagnostic medicine, coming up with numerous good ideas and correct diagnoses during his tenure.

Personality
If the mirror patient is any indication, Kutner was a bit of a masochist and an iconoclast. Early on, it was discovered that he enjoys magic and that he makes friends easily, with Jeffrey Cole being a good friend before Cole was fired. In addition, Kutner has a tendency to try to please people and make them like him. This was probably the personality trait that led House to believe he used to be in foster care.

Kutner is very much a geek, as a dedicated Trekker and fan of Star Wars (he was astounded when he realized a person who converted to Hasidism would never be able to watch it again).

Kutner is also the only fellow who seems to not only not mind but to enjoy the crazy tasks that House sends him on. In "Guardian Angels", he not only enthusiastically dug up a grave, but broke into the casket and expressed dismay when he realized the deceased had been buried the wrong way around.

In his interactions with patients, Kutner is understanding and kind towards others. In "The Itch", Kutner's advice on being honest with patient caused the patient to allow the team into his house. In "Emancipation", Kutner was able to identify with the patient when he believed that she had lost her parents.