Whedonverse Guests

Note: All guests appear health and work commitments pending

Fran Kranz

American actor Fran Kranz was born on July 13, 1983. He is a graduate of Yale University, where he enrolled in Shakespeare: Histories and Tragedies during the fall season of 2002. He was a member of Suite 13 Sketch Comedy, and of the Exit Players improv comedy troupe during that time.

Before that, he attended Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, California. While there, he performed leading roles in the school's drama productions, including the title character in Shakespeare's King Lear, as well as Judas in their musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He also attended high school with actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who became his co-star in Donnie Darko in 2001.

After his role in Donnie Darko, Fran Kranz got a small part in Training Day, starring Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Tom Berenger, Scott Glenn, Raymond J. Barry and Cliff Curtis. In 2002, Kranz was cast as Scott Brainard on the comedy film Orange County, starring Colin Hanks and Jack Black. Kranz’s next performance was in Matchstick Men, and he later played the character Adrian in Swordswallowers and Thin Men. In 2004, he was chosen to portray Christop Crane in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village. That year, he was also seen on Admissions as James Parks. In 2006, Fran Kranz landed the part of Ralph in Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas. He was next featured in The Night of the White Pants, The TV Set, Whirlygirl, and Homeland. The following year, he got a role in Rise, as well as in Careless. In 2008, he played Josh Flug in several episodes of Welcome to the Captain. This was followed by appearances in Wieners and the series Private Practice. He later portrayed a student on an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and was cast as Noah in Last Meal.

Also in 2010, Kranz was chosen to play Topher Brink on the Fox series Dollhouse, created by Joss Whedon. This brilliant series instantly bought Kranz to the fans attention as a beloved character in the Whedonverse. Also cast in Joss’ films Cabin in the Woods & the recently announced Much Ado About Nothing, we are delighted to have Fran joining us.

Julie Benz

An amazing actress with a plethora of roles in both film and television under her belt, Julie Benz has won the hearts of many devoted fans throughout her career, starring in an array of cult classics including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Roswell, as well as the Steven Spielberg produced alien abduction miniseries Taken. She has also guest starred on many hit TV shows, among them Supernatural, CSI and Law and Order, as well as starring opposite Michael Chiklis in No Ordinary Family.

In 2006, she won a Golden Satellite Award for Best Supporting TV Actress for her beloved role as 'Rita Bennett' on Showtime's award-winning series Dexter. At the end of last season, after four years on the show, Benz made headlines around the globe when her character met a shocking and tragic death.

On the big screen, Benz recently played the female lead in Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. In 2008, she starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in the action film, Ramvo IV, and darkened her hair to play the vengeful blue-collar wife of a murdered cop in The Punisher: War Zone. That same year, she met an untimely demise as one of Jigsaw's victims in Saw 5.

She is everyone's favourite sire, grandsire and great grandsire Darla and we are thrilled to have her join us for Whedonverse.