Sean Penn is more than just a talented A-lister. According to a Reuters news agency report, the actor played a real-life behind the scenes role in securing the release of two U.S. hikers from Iran.
The Academy Award winning celebrity and political activist flew to Venezuela several months ago to meet with President Hugo Chavez, an ally of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His mission was to lobby for the release of two U.S. citizens being held in an Iranian prison.
Chavez was part of the mediation process that brokered the released of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal last Wednesday, after the men served 781 days behind bars.
Penn and the South American politician have met at intervals over the past two years, leading Chavez to jokingly suggested that the actor should be named by President Barack Obama to the post of U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela.
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Photos: Video Screen Grabs, WENN