David Kranig

Short Biography

David L. Kranig was born and raised in the rich fertile farm and ranch lands of the Sacramento Valley in Northern California. The youngest of three sons, his loving parents Wayne and Mildred “Turner” Kranig were products of a generation of good, honest, self-reliant folks committed to family, community and country. David came from a tight-knit family of tough no-nonsense lawmen. His father, Wayne, was the Sheriff of Tehama County; his Uncle Ben served just down the road as Sheriff of Glenn County; and “Old Hank, ” his granddaddy, was a police officer in neighboring Butte County.A rugged individualist from time he took his first steps, David loved the outdoors and quickly became an avid sportsman, hunting was and is a life-long passion. Although surrounded by gifted and seasoned hunters, it may have been Granddaddy Hank, a legendary tracker and shooter, that proved the greatest influence on this fledgling modern-day Daniel Boone. David has hunted throughout the world and won several prestigious shooting events.With high school diploma fresh in his hands, he answered his country’s call to duty and enlisted in the United States Army, where he was selected to attend the elite paratrooper school. Upon graduating he was accepted as a member of the famous 101st Airborne Division, serving in Vietnam. A born leader, he mentored other young troopers in his unit and applied his outdoorsman’s skills to many dangerous combat situations. Severely wounded on one such mission, he spent 14 months in a stateside army hospital, enduring a host of complicated surgical procedures and therapy, followed by a period of much-needed recuperation.For his heroic actions in combat, David was presented the Bronze Star with “V” Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart. Other military awards include the Parachute Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Presidential Unit Citation.Upon retiring from the Army, David returned to the place of his impressionable youth and enrolled at the University of California Chico, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and a Minor in Recreational Administration. Caught by the acting bug, he hosted an outdoor recreation show on local television and later attended the renowned Actors Studio in Hollywood, with instruction by the famed acting coach Lee Strasburg. For a short time he taught school in Australia. Discouraged by the plight of teachers and hard-pressed to pay his bills he was lured into business by an old friend, where he excelled in building and operating several successful enterprises in California and Utah.It was during this time that David became good friends and hunting buddies with well-known actors Academy Award Winner Ben Johnson and Dub “Cannonball” Taylor who, on many occasions, urged him to give acting a real shot. Ben once said to him while they were sneaking and peaking around the bushy Sierra Foothills looking to bag some mountain Quail “Son, you really should give acting some serious thought.” “Hell boy, the way you tell stories even I tend to believe you . . .well , except maybe the one about ol’ Cannonball and the mule”.Following the sage advice of his dear friend Ben, David sought out an honest, aggressive, hardworking agent to represent him and began his journey, a childhood dream of becoming a successful stage and screen actor. It is a long hard road, as any aspiring actor will tell you, but he is paying his dues and living for the day that his star will shine and sparkle over the Hollywood landscape.SummaryDavid currently resides in a picturesque community nestled under the tranquil gaze of the Wasatch Mountains in the beautiful state of Utah surrounded by three sons and wonderful friends. He eagerly embraces life, and all the opportunities of a living in a free and open country, a place where your dreams can come true if you are willing take a firm hold and hang on.While continuing to hone his skills as an actor, his bags are always packed and ready to go, whenever or wherever there’s a need for a super-talented, gifted thespian, or just a fella who will show up on time, toe his mark, know his lines, be the character and give you and the audience their money’s worth!Favorite quotes:“Good ideas are only dreams, until courage and hard work make them a reality”. © TNK 2009“Don’t go lookin’, for trouble but if it finds you, stand your ground, a coward dies an inch at a time.” © TNK 2001“To succeed as an actor you need to shake hands, kiss babies, kick down some door. Of course getting calls from your agent and casting directors is good too.” © TNK 2005Biography by: Thomas N. Kranig April 2010