Fran Kranz

{{Infobox person

| name = Fran Kranz

| image = Fran Kranz by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = Kranz in 2009

| birth_name = Francis Elliott Kranz

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| education = Harvard-Westlake School

| alma_mater = Yale University (BA)

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1998–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Spencer Margaret Richmond|2015|2021|end=divorced}}

| children = 1

| relatives = Jaclyn Smith (former-mother-in-law)
Anthony B. Richmond (former-father-in-law)

}}

Francis Elliott Kranz is an American actor and film director. He is known for his portrayal of Topher Brink in the science fiction drama series Dollhouse.{{cite web|url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/dollhouse_fran_kranz_talks_topher/119979|title=Dollhouse: Fran Kranz Talks Topher|work=E!|first=Drusilla |last=Moorhouse|date=April 24, 2009|access-date=March 31, 2013}} 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 the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim.{{cite web|title=Mass (2021) Reviews|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mass_2021|accessdate=February 1, 2021|website=Rotten Tomatoes}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/francis_elliott_kranz_born_1981_14955920 |title=Francis Elliott Kranz, Born 07/13/1981 in California |publisher=CaliforniaBirthIndex.org |date=1981-07-13 |access-date=2014-02-21}} He started acting in third and fourth grade, and knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an actor.{{cite web|url=http://www.myfanbase.de/index.php?mid=2478&pid=8320|title=Interview with Fran Kranz|work=myfanbase.de|first=Catherine |last=Bühnsack|access-date=March 31, 2013}} Kranz graduated from Harvard-Westlake School{{citation|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-remington/interview-with-fran-kranz_b_90107.html|title=Interview with Fran Kranz, Star, CBS's Welcome to the Captain | work=Huffington Post | first=Alex|last=Remington|date=March 28, 2008}} in 2000 and from Yale University in 2004,{{cite web |url=http://www.redbrick.me/2012/03/interview-fran-kranz/ |title=Interview: Fran Kranz |work=redbrick.me |date=March 16, 2012 |first=Charlotte |last=Lytton |access-date=March 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113819/http://www.redbrick.me/2012/03/interview-fran-kranz/ |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |url-status=dead }} 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 daughter was born. On July 6, 2020, she filed for divorce.{{cite web |title=RICHMOND, SPENCER VS KRANZ, FRANCIS "FRAN" |url=https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la23-richmond-spencer-vs-kranz-francis-fran-561561 |website=unicourt.com}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan=2\| 2001 \| Donnie Darko \| Frank's Friend \|
Training Day \| College Driver \|
2002 \| Orange County \| Shane Brainard \|
rowspan=2\| 2003 \| Matchstick Men \| Slacker Boyfriend \|
Swordswallowers and Thin Men \| Adrian \|
rowspan=2\| 2004 \| The Village \| Christop Crane \|
Admissions \| James Parks \|
2005 \| Hitch \|Coca Cola Guy \|Uncredited
rowspan=4\| 2006 \| Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas \| Ralph \|
The Night of the White Pants \| Millian Hagan \|
The TV Set \| Zach Harper \|
Whirlygirl \| Freddie \|
rowspan=2\| 2007 \| Careless \| Mitch \|
Rise: Blood Hunter \| Alex \|
rowspan=3\| 2008 \| Wieners \| Joel \|
Shades of Ray \| Sal Garfinkle \|
Last Meal \| Noah \| Short film
rowspan=2\| 2009 \| Homeland \| Arne \|
My Two Fans \| Thad \|
2010 \| Don't Fade Away \| Ben \|
rowspan=3\| 2011 \| Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules \| Bill Walter \|
The Cabin in the Woods \| Marty \|
The Five Stages of Grief \| Daniel \| Short film
rowspan=3\| 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
rowspan=6\|2014 \| Lust for Love \| Astor \|
Before I Disappear \| Darren \|
Murder of a Cat \| Clinton \|
Last Weekend \| Sean Oakes \|
The Living \| Teddy \|
Seven Lovers \| Brian \|
rowspan=3\| 2015 \| Bloodsucking Bastards \| Evan \|
The Truth About Lies \| Gilby Smalls \|
Mojave \| Bob \|
2016 \| Rebirth \| Kyle \|
rowspan=3\| 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 \|
rowspan=2\| 2019 \| Fanboy \| Jeremiah Brennan \| Short film
Jungleland \| Buck Noble \|
2021 \| Mass \| — \| Director, writer, and producer
2022 \|Silk \|Short Sol \|Short film
rowspan=2\| 2024 \|They Whisper \|Silas \|
Half Lives \|Luke \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan=2| 2001

| Donnie Darko

| Frank's Friend

Training Day

| College Driver

2002

| Orange County

| Shane Brainard

rowspan=2| 2003

| Matchstick Men

| Slacker Boyfriend

Swordswallowers and Thin Men

| Adrian

rowspan=2| 2004

| The Village

| Christop Crane

Admissions

| James Parks

2005

| Hitch

|Coca Cola Guy

|Uncredited

rowspan=4| 2006

| Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas

| Ralph

The Night of the White Pants

| Millian Hagan

The TV Set

| Zach Harper

Whirlygirl

| Freddie

rowspan=2| 2007

| Careless

| Mitch

Rise: Blood Hunter

| Alex

rowspan=3| 2008

| Wieners

| Joel

Shades of Ray

| Sal Garfinkle

Last Meal

| Noah

| Short film

rowspan=2| 2009

| Homeland

| Arne

My Two Fans

| Thad

2010

| Don't Fade Away

| Ben

rowspan=3| 2011

| Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

| Bill Walter

The Cabin in the Woods

| Marty

The Five Stages of Grief

| Daniel

| Short film

rowspan=3| 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

rowspan=6|2014

| Lust for Love

| Astor

Before I Disappear

| Darren

Murder of a Cat

| Clinton

Last Weekend

| Sean Oakes

The Living

| Teddy

Seven Lovers

| Brian

rowspan=3| 2015

| Bloodsucking Bastards

| Evan

The Truth About Lies

| Gilby Smalls

Mojave

| Bob

2016

| Rebirth

| Kyle

rowspan=3| 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

rowspan=2| 2019

| Fanboy

| Jeremiah Brennan

| Short film

Jungleland

| Buck Noble

2021

| Mass

| —

| Director, writer, and producer

2022

|Silk

|Short Sol

|Short film

rowspan=2| 2024

|They Whisper

|Silas

Half Lives

|Luke

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
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"

class="wikitable sortable"

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=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
2012 \| Death of a Salesman \| Bernard \| Ethel Barrymore Theatre, starring Philip Seymour HoffmanGans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160706-Starry-Revival-of-Arthur-Millers-Death-of-a-Salesman-Opens-on-Broadway "Starry Revival of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' Opens on Broadway"] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317215235/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160706-Starry-Revival-of-Arthur-Millers-Death-of-a-Salesman-Opens-on-Broadway \|date=2012-03-17 }} playbill.com, March 15, 2012
2014 \| You Can't Take It with You \| Tony Kirby{{cite web\|author=Tedder, Michael \|title=Fran Kranz on Joss Whedon and Broadway's 'You Can't Take It With You' \|url=https://variety.com/2014/scene/news/fran-kranz-joss-whedon-broadway-you-cant-take-it-with-you-1201316749/ \|work=Variety \|date=2014-09-29 \|access-date=2015-03-04}} \| Longacre Theatre, starring James Earl JonesStaff. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/the-verdict-critics-review-you-cant-take-it-with-you-starring-james-earl-jones-and-elizabeth-ashley-on-broadway-331651 "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
2025 \| Good Night, and Good Luck \| Palmer Williams \| Winter Garden Theatre

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

2012

| Death of a Salesman

| Bernard

| Ethel Barrymore Theatre, starring Philip Seymour HoffmanGans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160706-Starry-Revival-of-Arthur-Millers-Death-of-a-Salesman-Opens-on-Broadway "Starry Revival of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman' Opens on Broadway"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317215235/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160706-Starry-Revival-of-Arthur-Millers-Death-of-a-Salesman-Opens-on-Broadway |date=2012-03-17 }} playbill.com, March 15, 2012

2014

| You Can't Take It with You

| Tony Kirby{{cite web|author=Tedder, Michael |title=Fran Kranz on Joss Whedon and Broadway's 'You Can't Take It With You' |url=https://variety.com/2014/scene/news/fran-kranz-joss-whedon-broadway-you-cant-take-it-with-you-1201316749/ |work=Variety |date=2014-09-29 |access-date=2015-03-04}}

| Longacre Theatre, starring James Earl JonesStaff. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/the-verdict-critics-review-you-cant-take-it-with-you-starring-james-earl-jones-and-elizabeth-ashley-on-broadway-331651 "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

2025

| Good Night, and Good Luck

| Palmer Williams

| Winter Garden Theatre

=Web=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
2009 \| MegaBot \| Blue{{cite web\|author=Caroline van Oosten de Boer, Milo Vermeulen \|url=http://whedonesque.com/comments/21747 \|title=Post about MegaBot on \|publisher=Whedonesque.com \|access-date=2014-02-21}} \|
2012 \| JourneyQuest \| Silver Tom \| 8 episodes

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

2009

| MegaBot

| Blue{{cite web|author=Caroline van Oosten de Boer, Milo Vermeulen |url=http://whedonesque.com/comments/21747 |title=Post about MegaBot on |publisher=Whedonesque.com |access-date=2014-02-21}}

2012

| JourneyQuest

| Silver Tom

| 8 episodes

=Music videos=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
2003 \| The Chemical Brothers - "The Golden Path" \| Main role - Office worker \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

2003

| The Chemical Brothers - "The Golden Path"

| Main role - Office worker

References

External links

{{IMDb name|469823}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130923011644/http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxxi/2001.02.09/news/p6.html Interview with Kranz - "Fran Kranz on theater, film, and his haircut"]
{{IBDB name|491289}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Fran Kranz

|list =

{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}

{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay}}

}}

Category:1981 births

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American male comedians

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:Harvard-Westlake School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Yale University alumni

Category:Exit Players alumni

Category:Comedians from Los Angeles

Category:21st-century American comedians