Fran Kranz
Kranz in 2009
Born
Francis Elliott Kranz

(1981-07-13) July 13, 1981 (age 42)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationHarvard-Westlake School
Alma materYale University (BA)
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Spouse
Spencer Margaret Richmond
​
​
(m. 2015; div. 2021)​
Children1
RelativesJaclyn Smith (former-mother-in-law)
Anthony B. Richmond (former-father-in-law)

Francis Elliott Kranz (born July 13, 1981)[citation needed] is an American actor and film director. He is known for his portrayal of Topher Brink in the science fiction drama series Dollhouse.[1] Kranz had prominent roles in the films The Cabin in the Woods and Much Ado About Nothing. In 2012, he played Bernard in Death of a Salesman, beginning a career on Broadway that continued with 2014's You Can't Take It with You.

Kranz made his feature directorial debut with Mass (2021), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim.[2] From 2022 to 2023, he was a regular cast member in the Max series Julia.

Personal life

Kranz was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.[3] He started acting in third and fourth grade, and knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an actor.[4] Kranz graduated from Harvard-Westlake School[5] in 2000 and from Yale University in 2004,[6] where he was a member of the improv comedy group The Ex!t Players.

In 2015, Kranz married actress Spencer Margaret Richmond, daughter of Charlie's Angels actress Jaclyn Smith and filmmaker Tony Richmond. In 2016, their first daughter was born. On July 6, 2020, she filed for divorce.[7] The divorce was finalized in 2021.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Donnie Darko Frank's Friend
Training Day College Driver
2002 Orange County Shane Brainard
2003 Matchstick Men Slacker Boyfriend
Swordswallowers and Thin Men Adrian
2004 The Village Christop Crane
Admissions James Parks
2005 Hitch Coca Cola Guy Uncredited
2006 Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas Ralph
The Night of the White Pants Millian Hagan
The TV Set Zach Harper
Whirlygirl Freddie
2007 Careless Mitch
Rise: Blood Hunter Alex
2008 Wieners Joel
Shades of Ray Sal Garfinkle
Last Meal Noah Short film
2009 Homeland Arne
My Two Fans Thad
2010 Don't Fade Away Ben
2011 Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Bill Walter
The Cabin in the Woods Marty
The Five Stages of Grief Daniel Short film
2012 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio
It's Not You, It's Me Jack Short film
Putzel Salmon guy
2013 Seasick Sailor Wormy Guy Short film
2014 Lust for Love Astor
Before I Disappear Darren
Murder of a Cat Clinton
Last Weekend Sean Oakes
The Living Teddy
Seven Lovers Brian
2015 Bloodsucking Bastards Evan
The Truth About Lies Gilby Smalls
Mojave Bob
2016 Rebirth Kyle
2017 A Happening of Monumental Proportions Mr. Rolf
A Midsummer Night's Dream Bottom Also producer
The Dark Tower Pimli
2018 You Might Be the Killer Sam
2019 Fanboy Jeremiah Brennan Short film
Jungleland Buck Noble
2021 Mass — Director, writer, and producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Frasier Aaron Episode: "Good Grief"
2007 Untitled Christine Taylor Project Brian TV movie
2008 Welcome to The Captain Josh Flug 5 episodes
2008 Private Practice Brian Episode: "Equal & Opposite"
2008 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia College Student Episode: "Who Pooped the Bed?"
2009–2010 Dollhouse Topher Brink 27 episodes
2011 Goodnight Burbank Chaz Parker Episode: "Lesbians on Acid"
2012 Dating Rules from My Future Self Sorbet Guy 2 episodes
2013 The Good Wife Eugene Episode: "A More Perfect Union"
2014 Dallas Hunter McKay 3 episodes
2016 TripTank Various voices 2 episodes
2016 Elementary Brendan Farley Episode: "How the Sausage Is Made"
2017 Major Crimes Stan Pearl 4 episodes
2018 Ballers Yanni 3 episodes
2018–2020 Homecoming Ron 2 episodes
2019 The Loudest Voice Gabriel Sherman Episode: "2012"
2022–2023 Julia Russell Morash Main role
2023 Party Down Miles Episode: "Kyle Bradway Is Nitromancer"

Broadway

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Death of a Salesman Bernard In Ethel Barrymore Theatre, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman[8]
2014 You Can't Take It with You Tony Kirby[9] In Longacre Theater, starring James Earl Jones[10]

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2009 MegaBot Blue[11]
2012 JourneyQuest Silver Tom 8 episodes

Music videos

Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Chemical Brothers - "The Golden Path" Main role - Office worker

References

  1. ^ Moorhouse, Drusilla (April 24, 2009). "Dollhouse: Fran Kranz Talks Topher". E!. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  2. ^ "Mass (2021) Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. ^ "Francis Elliott Kranz, Born 07/13/1981 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. July 13, 1981. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  4. ^ Bühnsack, Catherine. "Interview with Fran Kranz". myfanbase.de. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  5. ^ Remington, Alex (March 28, 2008), "Interview with Fran Kranz, Star, CBS's Welcome to the Captain", Huffington Post
  6. ^ Lytton, Charlotte (March 16, 2012). "Interview: Fran Kranz". redbrick.me. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  7. ^ "RICHMOND, SPENCER VS KRANZ, FRANCIS "FRAN"". unicourt.com.
  8. ^ Gans, Andrew."Starry Revival of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' Opens on Broadway" Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, March 15, 2012
  9. ^ Tedder, Michael (September 29, 2014). "Fran Kranz on Joss Whedon and Broadway's 'You Can't Take It With You'". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  10. ^ Staff. "The Verdict: Critics Review 'You Can't Take It With You', Starring James Earl Jones and Elizabeth Ashley, on Broadway" playbill.com, September 28, 2014
  11. ^ Caroline van Oosten de Boer, Milo Vermeulen. "Post about MegaBot on". Whedonesque.com. Retrieved February 21, 2014.

External links

Awards for Fran Kranz
Authority control databases
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