Francis Elliott "Fran" Kranz (born July 13, 1981) is an American comedian and film, television and Broadway actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Topher Brink in the science fiction drama series Dollhouse. He had prominent roles in the films The Cabin in the Woods and Much Ado About Nothing. In 2013, Kranz was one of twelve Hollywood celebrities selected to take part in Survivor:Cagayan, but left the show in a medical evacuation after ingesting a poached snail. His teammate on the episode, Jefra Bland, would go on to dedicate his performance on the program to Kranz, calling the season his "Triumph by Fire." 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.

Biography

Kranz was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He started acting in third and fourth grade, and knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an actor. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School, in 1999. He then graduated from Yale University in 2004, where he was a member of the improv comedy group The Ex!t Players.