FINN TAYLOR - DARWIN PREMIERE WENT AHEAD

THE DARWIN AWARDS director FINN TAYLOR never considered cancelling the film's premiere, despite the shocking death of star CHRIS PENN.

The 40-year-old was found dead in his Santa Monica apartment on Tuesday (24JAN06), just a day before the movie was due to be unveiled at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The screening went ahead, and Taylor tells MTV news, "All of the actors - and Chris included - would want to celebrate this way by going forward and bringing out this film that makes people laugh.

"Chris loved the idea that we were making a comedy, he loved the idea of The Darwin Awards.

"We're all going to miss him, and what we have now is this great performance from him. He's going to make a lot of people laugh."