That ’70s Show provided plenty of laughs and fond memories for those with a penchant for the past. The series, which ran on Fox from 1998 to 2006, focused on a group of high school students in the 1970s in the fictional suburbs of Point Place, Wisconsin. Many talented actors played the high schoolers in the series, including Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, Lisa Robin Kelly, and the now disgraced Danny Masterson. Prominent among the adults featured in the show were Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Don Stark, Tommy Chong, and Tanya Roberts.
The show’s setting in the 1970s was a big part of its success, appealing to both older viewers who remembered the era well and younger viewers who were fascinated by the retro style. That ’70s Show evoked nostalgia for the 1970s through its period-appropriate clothes, music, and cultural references. A lot of the comedy came from the characters’ dialogues and interactions, which took place in the basement of Eric Forman’s house. In addition, the show’s exploration of universal themes of coming of age struck a chord with its audience.
And now that Netflix aired a sequel series, That ’90s Show, set in 1995 and focusing on the children of the main characters of That ’70s Show, many fans wonder what became of the original show’s cast. So here’s everything that’s happened to them since the series finale.
Topher Grace (Eric Forman)
Topher Grace — then only 20 — was cast as the show’s central character, Eric Forman. Although he means well, Eric is a nerd, a klutz, and an accident waiting to happen. However, he is not afraid to stand up for himself, and he successfully lobbies his parents to accept Steven Hyde as a family member by having him move in with them.
After graduating high school, Eric changes careers and departs the show at the end of season 7 to pursue teaching in Africa. In the season finale, Eric returns and reunites with his ex Donna. According to That ’90s Show, Eric and Donna had a daughter they named Leia after Princess Leia. Grace’s career took off after That ’70s Show, with roles in major films, including Spider-Man 3 (2007) as Eddie Brock/Venom and Valentine’s Day (2010) as part of an ensemble cast.
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (2014) and Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (2018), for which he received rave reviews, featured him prominently in their casts. In the 2019 episode “Smithereens” from Black Mirror season 5, he played Billy Bauer. Grace also landed a role in the 2020 pilot for ABC’s Home Economics.
Regarding his personal life, Grace began dating actress Ashley Hinshaw in January 2014, and the two tied the knot in the Santa Barbara area of California in May 2016. They’re parents to two children.
Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti)
Laura Prepon became well-known for her performance as Eric’s long-term girlfriend and fiancée, Donna Pinciotti. Donna’s character grows and changes in unexpected ways during the show. She actively opposes the stereotypical roles played by women in society and enjoys learning with the hopes of becoming a journalist.
She develops good ties with the other members of the group as well as a tight bond with her parents, Bob and Midge Pinciotti (Don Stark and Debra Jo Rupp). She briefly dates Michael’s brother Casey, and Randy in the final season before getting back together with Eric in the series finale.
Post That ’70s Show Laura Prepon proved her versatility with roles in Karla, a true-crime thriller, and October Road, a drama on ABC. In addition, she had three guest appearances on How I Met Your Mother as Ted’s girlfriend, Karen. However, after That ’70s Show, Prepon’s most recognized role was as Alex Vause on Netflix’s Orange is the new black.
The actress — author of The Stash Plan and founder of the cookware line PrepOn Kitchen — is married to actor Ben Foster and the couple has two kids.
Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart)
When Mila Kunis first joined That ’70s Show as Jackie Burkhart, she was just 14 years old. Additionally, she became the voice of Meg Griffin on Family Guy during her time on the show. Jackie, a popular high school student portrayed as vain and materialistic, has a high-pitched, distinctive voice and is well-known for her impeccable style and fixation with fame.
As the plot progresses, her wealthy father goes to jail, and her mother leaves Point Place. Jackie starts working, making her more humble and appreciative of genuine affection and care from those around her. Jackie and Michael Kelso had a troubled romantic relationship marked by infidelity and jealousy.
That ’90s Show claims she reunited with Kelso, married him multiple times, and they had a son called Jay. In real life, Kunis started dating her That ’70s show co-star Ashton Kutcher (who played Michael Kelso) in 2012, years after the program ended. The happy pair tied the knot in 2015.
Kunis’ filmography includes roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Black Swan, and Jupiter Ascending. Recent works she has participated in include The Spy Who Dumped Me, Four Good Days, and Luckiest Girl Alive. Because of her dedication to helping the Ukrainian people, she was named one of People magazine’s People of the Year in 2022.
Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso)
Ashton Kutcher portrayed Michael Kelso — the dumb, sex-obsessed pretty boy — throughout the first seven seasons of the program. Kelso was with the equally shallow Jackie. However, after Jackie discovers his infidelity with Laurie, they break up.
In season 8, Kelso only appears in five episodes, the last of which is the finale. He makes a cameo appearance in the first season of That ’90s Show, during which it is revealed that he and Jackie are amid their “second re-marriage” and that he has become a father for the second time, this time to a boy named Jay.
After That ’70s Show, Ashton Kutcher went on to star in several successful films, including Dude, Where’s My Car?, Just Married, and The Butterfly Effect. Kutcher succeeded Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men and launched the MTV hidden camera show Punk’d. He has won a People’s Choice Award and been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and two Young Artist Awards.
Kutcher also runs a successful venture capital firm in the technology industry named A-Grade Investments. In 2015, following his divorce from Demi Moore, he tied the knot with Mila Kunis. Kutcher makes a comeback appearance on That ’90s Show as a guest star.
Wilmer Valderrama (Fez)
Fez, played by Wilmer Valderrama, is portrayed as a student on exchange from a country that is not specified. Fez is well-known for his inflated accent, eccentric behavior, and relentless quest for female companionship. Throughout the show, he makes frequent romantic advances toward Jackie and Donna.
He had feelings for Jackie from the start of the series, but she returns them only in season 8. Fez has difficulty adjusting to American society, frequently leading to awkward and funny misunderstandings. Fez’s true origins and history are never revealed, which adds mystery to his persona.
Following the success of That ’70s Show, Wilmer Valderrama hosted and produced the MTV show Yo Momma and provided the title character’s voice in Disney’s Handy Manny. After his success on Wizards of Waverly Place, Raising Hope, and Grey’s Anatomy, Valderrama has continued his acting career and is now a star on NCIS.
Valderrama is engaged to Amanda Pacheco, with whom he shares a daughter.
Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde)
Before Danny Masterson’s horrific crimes came to light and his subsequent public fall from grace, he played Eric’s best buddy and the group’s anti-establishment member, Steven Hyde.
Hyde is a rebellious individual with a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor. He’s also the crew’s most insightful and realistic friend, so others often ask him for advice. After three seasons together, Hyde and Jackie broke up, and in the series finale, he married Samantha, an exotic dancer/stripper who was still married to her first husband.
Danny Masterson went on to star in movies and shows such as Yes Man, The Bridge to Nowhere, and Netflix’s The Ranch. However, in March of 2017, three women submitted sexual assault charges against Masterson, initiating an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Masterson was found guilty on two of three charges of forcible rape on May 31, 2023. Until his sentence, Masterson will remain in jail without bail, and the law may put him in prison for 30 years or even forever.
Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman)
Debra Jo Rupp played the role of Kitty Forman, the doting mom. Kitty, mom to Eric and Laurie and Red’s wife, is a happy, overprotective parent who, when provoked, can become icy and forceful. She’s a nurse and a recovering alcoholic who occasionally picks up drinking again, but her extreme mood swings are typically written off to menopause.
After the series ended, Debra Jo Rupp went on to star in ABC’s Better with You and made guest appearances in a total of twelve episodes of The Ranch. Rupp also played a vital role in the WandaVision miniseries from Marvel Studios. Rupp’s reprised her role as Kitty on That ’90s Show.
Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman)
Kurtwood Smith was Eric and Laurie’s father, Hyde’s surrogate father, and Kitty’s spouse. Red served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He is rude to Fez because he is a foreigner and often calls him derogatory names.
After That ’70s Show, Kurtwood Smith went on to star in other TV shows and movies, such as Worst Week, 24, Medium, Cedar Rapids, and Hitchcock. He appeared in the 2020 season of the critically acclaimed Hulu series The Dropout. Smith returned on That ’90s Show as Red Forman.
Don Stark (Bob Pinciotti)
Don Stark was Midge’s husband and Donna Pinciotti’s father, Bob Pinciotti. He is the type of person who can make everyone smile. Bob is also well-known for walking around the home in only his robe and without underwear, a significant source of annoyance for his family and friends.
Don Stark has had appearances and minor roles in numerous TV shows and films since That ’70s Show, including iCarly, NCIS, Shameless, and Dollface. Stark was on That ‘90s Show as a surprise guest star.
Published: Jun 1, 2023 03:46 pm