Quick Wiki
- Full Name Robert Krantz
- Occupation Actor, Writer, Director, Producer
- Nationality Greek-American
Robert Krantz | Biography
Krantz is the founder of the company Ellinas MultimediaRobert Krantz served as a writer, co-director, co-producer, and editor in the faith-based 2019 movie, 'Faith, Hope & Love.' He starred in the role of Jimmy Hope. The film follows the story of recent divorcee Faith Turley (played by Pete Murgatroyd), who enters a dance contest to save her dance studio. At the dance studio, Faith Turley meets Jimmy Hope and eventually rediscovers her faith and dreams.
Robert Krantz is a Greek-American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his faith-based romantic comedy film ‘Faith, Hope & Love.’
Who is Robert Krantz?
Robert Krantz is an actor who started his acting career in 1984, appearing in the film The Woman in Red. Later he acted in multiple films and television series before making his first film, Do You Wanna Dance? in 1999. He is the writer, editor, co-director, co-producer, and star of the faith-based film Faith, Hope & Love (2019).
Krantz is the owner of a multimedia company, Ellinas Multimedia. He is also an author of the novel ‘Falling in Love with Sophia.’
Early Life and Education
Haralambos Karountzos, alias Robert Krantz grew up as a “typical Greek kid” in Wisconsin, the United States. His now-late parents raised him and his two siblings in Wisconsin. His father was involved in restaurants and businesses, and his mother was a homemaker.
As a child, Krantz grew up playing football with his friends. Later, he became passionate about basketball during his high school years. For him, playing basketball in his middle and high school taught him about hard work and teamwork.
During his senior year in high school, Krantz inadvertently developed a thought to get involved with the movies. In an interview, he said that growing up in the Elm Grove suburb in Wisconsin and wanting to be in movies was like saying ‘you’d like to live on the Moon.’ But, his time during Annunciation Church Camp became a stepping stone to his career in the film industry.
In an Instagram post dated 5 August 2021, he wrote, “When I was a senior in high school, I went to our Annunciation Greek Orthodox church camp. I was heading to college that Fall and I had the strangest feeling that I was supposed to have a career in the movie business. So, one day, at the camp, I caught up with one of the counselors, Fay Kolster. As the two of us walked down a dirt road to lunch, I told her that I thought God’s plan for my life was to be in the movies.” Krantz further said that Kolster prayed for his career, and that incident happened to be the genesis of his career.
After finishing high school, Krantz attended Arizona State University. But, he quickly transferred to the University of Southern California School of Film, from where he graduated in Film and Television program.
Career
Krantz initially worked as a production assistant on the 1980 mystery horror film NightKill. He began his professional acting career in 1984, appearing as a club attendant in the romantic comedy film The Woman in Red. In 1985, Krantz appeared as Mick Thurster in the comedy film Paradise Motel and bystander in the sci-fi comedy film Back to the Future. He then portrayed the role of a reporter in the 1986 sci-fi comedy film Short Circuit. The following year, Krantz appeared as ‘Bad’ Billy Robinson in the action-adventure film Winners Take All, alongside Don Michael Paul and Kathleen York. In 1987, he also played the role of Jeff in the TV movie Strange Voices, directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman.
He then appeared in the 1988 biographical romantic drama TV movie Onassis: The Richest Man in the World, based on Peter Evans’ 1986 book titled ‘Ari: The Life and Times of Aristotle Onassis.’ Directed by Waris Hussein, the TV movie details the life of one of the world’s richest man Aristotle Onassis, his rise to power, and unhappy marriages.
Six years later, Krantz played a pool guard in Margot Hope’s 1994 action comedy film Femme Fontaine: Killer Babe for the CIA.
‘Do You Wanna Dance?‘
Krantz’s love for dance, religion and film led him to write, produce, and also act in the role of dance instructor Billy Duncan in the 1999 faith-based romantic comedy film Do You Wanna Dance? For his faith-based dance film Do You Wanna Dance? Krantz won the ‘Audience Award’ and the ‘Crystal Palm Award’ at Marco Island Film Festival in 2000.
‘Christmas with the Karountzoses’
After more than 15 years of break from the film industry, Krantz co-directed and co-produced the 2015 faith-based comedy film Christmas with the Karountzoses.
‘Faith, Hope & Love’
In 2019, Krantz came up with another film, Faith, Hope & Love, in which he starred in the role of Jimmy Hope. He also served as a writer, co-director, co-producer, and editor in Faith, Hope & Love. The film follows the story of recent divorcee Faith Turley (played by Pete Murgatroyd), who enters a dance contest to save her dance studio. At the dance studio, Faith Turley meets Jimmy Hope and eventually rediscovers her faith and dreams.
Television Appearances
Between 1986 and 1990, Krantz guest-starred in various roles in multiple television series. In 1986, he appeared as Nick Delano in one episode titled ‘Scapegoats’ of the romantic drama television series Hotel. The same year, he played Eddie Carpucci in an episode titled ‘When Worlds Collide’ of the comedic family television series Who’s the Boss? In 1987, he appeared in a role of a contractor in one episode titled ‘Baby Blues’ of the NBC comedy family series Silver Spoon and in the role of Rudy in the pilot episode of the horror thriller television series Werewolf. That year, he also appeared in the role of Toby Kabek in the two-episode thriller television mini-series Billionaire Boys Club.
In 1989, he played the role of Robby Moore in Season 3 Episode 5 titled ‘The DJ’ of the mystery crime television series Matlock. The same year, he appeared as Stuart Tenzer in Season 3 Episode 20 of another mystery crime television series, 21 Jump Street. Furthermore, he played the role of Lewis in one episode titled ‘The Offering’ of the fantasy comedy-drama television series Monsters in 1990.
Ellinas Multimedia
Krantz took a break from the entertainment industry in 1988 when his wife announced she was pregnant with triplets. From 1998 to 2014, he focused on raising their sons with his wife. During that time, he founded a company named Ellinas Multimedia that produces and distributes Greek multimedia products such as books, music CDs, movies, and religious DVDs.
Books
In 2009, Krantz published a fiction book titled ‘Falling in Love with Sophia,’ which follows the love story of two sixth-graders, Michael Alexopoulos and Sophia. Two years later, he published another book titled ‘Guide to the Divine Liturgy.’
Personal Life
Krantz marked his 28th wedding anniversary with his wife Tricia on 4 July 2021 on Instagram. The couple has triplet sons, Chris, Nick, and George.
