- published: 03 Jul 2013
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Francis Elliott "Fran" Kranz (born July 13, 1981) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Topher Brink in Joss Whedon's science fiction drama television series Dollhouse, and for a prominent role in The Cabin in the Woods, co-written by Whedon.
He currently plays the role of Bernard in Death of a Salesman on Broadway.
Kranz started acting in third and fourth grade and knew from a very young age that he wanted to be an actor. Kranz grew up in Los Angeles, California and attended Harvard-Westlake High School. Kranz graduated in 2004 from Yale University, where he was a member of the improv comedy group The Ex!t Players.
Tahmoh Penikett (pronounced [ˈtaʔmo] /ˈpɛnɨkɨt/; born May 20, 1975) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles as Karl "Helo" Agathon on the Sci Fi Channel's television series Battlestar Galactica and as Paul Ballard in Joss Whedon's Dollhouse'.
Penikett is the son of former Yukon premier Tony Penikett, who immigrated to Victoria, British Columbia from England at age 12, and Lulla Sierra Johns, of the White River First Nation in the Yukon. He has two siblings, twin sisters Sarah and Stephanie. He graduated from the Victoria Motion Picture School and studied at the Lyric School of Acting in Vancouver.
Penikett currently lives in Vancouver with his family.
In support of the Babz Chula Lifeline for Artists Society, which is raising money for their friend and fellow Canadian actor Chula's cancer treatment, Penikett and his Battlestar Galactica colleague Kandyse McClure auctioned off the opportunity to have dinner with both of them in Vancouver in April 2008.
He trains in muay thai and has showcased his ability in various roles, including in Battlestar Galactica and most notably as Agent Ballard in the fight sequences in Dollhouse, where he choreographed most of his own moves.
Dollhouse is an American science fiction television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon under Mutant Enemy Productions. It premiered on February 13, 2009, on the Fox network and was officially cancelled on November 11, 2009. The final episode aired on January 29, 2010. Production wrapped in December 2009, with a total of 27 episodes produced including the original pilot.
The show revolves around a corporation running numerous underground establishments (known as "Dollhouses") across the globe which program individuals referred to as Actives (or Dolls) with temporary personalities and skills. Wealthy clients hire Actives from Dollhouses at great expense for various purposes. The series primarily follows the Active known as Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, on her journey towards self-awareness. Dushku also served as series producer.
The story follows Echo (Eliza Dushku), a "doll" or "Active" for the Los Angeles "Dollhouse", one of several fictional facilities, called "Houses," run by a company which hires out human beings to wealthy clients. These "engagements" range from romantic interludes to high-risk criminal enterprises. Each Active has their original memories wiped and exists in a child-like blank state until programmed via the insertion of new memories and personalities for each mission. Actives such as Echo are ostensibly volunteers who have surrendered their minds and bodies to the organization for five-year stints, during which their original personalities are saved on hard drives, in exchange for vast amounts of money and a solution to any other problematic circumstances in their lives. Echo is unique however in that she remembers small amounts even after personality "wipes", and gradually develops an increasingly cognizant self-awareness and personality. This concept allows the series to examine the notions of identity and personhood.
I'm just a girl
And you're just a boy
This is my heart
It's not a toy
So what's with you playing with my mind?
We used to be cool
This used to be love
Now it's become
Something like a job
Like it or not
Maybe things are changing
Right before out eyes
(Pre-chorus:)
I tried to be your picture perfect girl
But you were in your own fantasy world
Tryna control me
Like some kind of barbie
But that just ain't me
(Chorus:)
Cuz I'm not a doll
This ain't a dollhouse
Your way too old to be
Putting me down like this
And playing around like this
I ain't a doll
This ain't a dollhouse
No I could never be stuck living like this
Behind these four walls
Cuz I ain't a doll
You call the shots
Right down to my shoes
I liked what you liked
Cuz you told me to
And I don't think that you could even tell
I fell out of love
But it never showed
I gave up on us
So long ago
But you'll never know
Baby don't pretend like you know me so well
(Prechorus)
(Chorus)
I'll never be made of plastic
So glad my hearts elastic
No matter what you do
I'll bounce back off of you
Cut me but I'm bleeding
(Prechorus)
(Chorus)
And I come with imperfections
Epitome of perfection
If you can't understand
Loving the way I am
Then you're no good for me