Francis Elliott "Fran" Kranz, born in Los Angeles in 1981, is an American actor, director, and screenwriter. A graduate of Yale University, he gained recognition for his collaborations with director Joss Whedon, playing the brilliant programmer Topher Brink in the television series `Dollhouse` (2009-2010) and the character Marty Mikalski in the cult horror film `The Cabin in the Woods` (2012). His acting career ranges from film, with roles in movies such as `The Village` and `The Dark Tower`, to theater, where he performed on Broadway in the revival of `Death of a Salesman` alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman. In 2021, he made his directorial debut with the drama film `Mass`, which he also wrote. The film, which explores the conversation between two sets of parents in the aftermath of a tragic school shooting, received unanimous critical acclaim and won numerous accolades, including the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award for its outstanding ensemble cast.