If you were a teenager in the late ’90s or early 2000s, chances are you spent your weeknights hanging out in a basement in Point Place, Wisconsin, with Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie, Fez, and Hyde. ‘That ’70s Show,’ which premiered in 1998, perfectly captured the nostalgic, low-stakes, and hilariously relatable lives of a group of six teenagers as they navigated love, friendships, concerts, and, of course, marijuana-based shenanigans. It made the decade accessible and beloved for TV audiences worldwide, and even inspired a ’90s-set Netflix revival, ‘That ’90s Show.’
For eight seasons, this iconic sitcom not only fed into a ’90s revival of all things ’70s but also provided major breakthroughs for most of its young stars. They became household names, their catchphrases like ‘Burn!’ and ‘I said good day!’ entering the vernacular. But what happened after the Vista Cruiser drove off into the sunset in 2006? We’re taking a trip down memory lane to catch up with the high-flying friends and their parents, many of whom have made appearances in the Netflix spin-off.
1. **Topher Grace (Eric Forman): From Nerd-Next-Door to Movie Star and Beyond**Topher Grace embodied the lovable nerd-next-door, Eric Forman, for seven seasons of ‘That ’70s Show.’ It was his very first professional role, discovered by creators Bonnie and Terry Turner in a school play, and it catapulted him into major young stardom. Grace’s portrayal of Eric, with his sarcastic wit and endearing awkwardness, made him a relatable anchor for the show’s wild antics.
After departing ‘That ’70s Show’ in 2005 (though he returned for a cameo in the series finale), Grace set his sights on feature films. He quickly secured significant roles in movies like ‘In Good Company,’ ‘Mona Lisa Smile,’ and ‘Traffic.’ One of his first big post-show roles was as Eddie Brock-slash-Venom in Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man 3’ opposite Tobey Maguire, a high-profile turn in the highest-grossing movie of 2007. He then spent the next decade starring in a wide array of projects, from big-budget blockbusters like Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’ and the ensemble comedy ‘Valentine’s Day’ to comedies such as ‘Take Me Home Tonight’ and ‘American Ultra.’
Beyond acting, Grace has been focusing on his personal life and other creative endeavors. He married actor Ashley Hinshaw in 2016, and the couple welcomed two children before announcing they were expecting their third in September 2022. He’s also been a player in newer media, creating truncated fan edits of the ‘Star Wars’ prequel trilogy and ‘The Hobbit’ movies, showcasing his passion for film, and hosting the podcast ‘Minor Adventures with Topher Grace.’
2. **Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti): From ’70s Rocker to Bestselling Author**Laura Prepon captivated audiences as the fiery, independent girl-next-door Donna Pinciotti, staying with ‘That ’70s Show’ for its entire eight-season run. Starting with not much screen experience, she grew with the character, who eventually emerged as a writer and local rock radio personality. Donna was a strong female character, serving as Eric Forman’s childhood best friend, neighbor, and dream partner.
After the show wrapped in 2006, Prepon transitioned through a number of television series. She starred on the short-lived small-town soap ‘October Road’ and made guest appearances on popular shows including ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and ‘House M.D.’ to close out the 2000s. A significant turning point came in 2012 when she signed on for Netflix’s groundbreaking series ‘Orange is the New Black,’ which premiered in July 2013. The show became one of the streamer’s most-watched, earning numerous accolades including four Primetime Emmys, and ran for seven seasons, ending in 2019.
In her personal life, Prepon married actor Ben Foster in 2018, and they share two children. She also channeled her skills into writing, becoming a New York Times-best-selling author. In 2016, she co-authored the wellness guide and cookbook ‘The Stash Plan,’ and in 2020, she published ‘You and I, As Mothers: A Raw and Honest Guide to Motherhood.’ Her work extends beyond the page, as she also sells her own line of cooking gear, Prepon Kitchen.
3. **Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso): The Hunkiest Idiot’s Hollywood Takeover**Ashton Kutcher burst onto the scene as Michael Kelso, Point Place’s resident hunkiest idiot, a force of comedic chaos whether physically flailing around or suggesting ill-advised pranks. He was a brand new actor and former model when he took on the role, and he quickly became the first and biggest star to emerge from ‘That ’70s Show’ with his broad comic strokes and movie-star good looks.
Beyond acting, Kutcher proved to be a shrewd businessman and media innovator. He maintained his own production company, Katalyst Films, which, alongside co-owner Jason Goldberg, produced the millennial-age hit prank show ‘Punk’d,’ which Ashton also hosted, along with a number of films and other media projects. Perhaps more notably, he also co-founded A-Grade Investments in 2010, which has helped fund start-ups like Uber and Airbnb, showcasing his foresight in the tech world.
His personal life has also been widely publicized. He famously married actor Demi Moore in 2005 before announcing their separation six years later. However, he eventually found love again with his former ‘That ’70s Show’ on-screen romance, Mila Kunis, whom he married in 2015. The couple has two children together. He told Esquire in 2023, “The thing about Mila that made our relationship accelerate was that I had always admired her. Her talents, her skills, her gifts. But I knew that she didn’t need me. And she knew that I didn’t need her.”
Kutcher has also been deeply involved in philanthropic ventures, including forming Thorn, an international anti-trafficking organization. He created and sold the feel-good media company A Plus. However, he faced negative backlash and left Thorn in 2023 when news surfaced that he and Mila Kunis wrote letters to the court urging gentle sentencing for the rape conviction of their former coworker Danny Masterson. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, he and Kunis also formed a winery called Quarantine Wine, donating all profits to coronavirus-related charities.
4. **Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart): From Sassy Teen to Hollywood Powerhouse**Mila Kunis’ first major role was as the sassy snob Jackie Burkhart on ‘That ’70s Show.’ Cast at just 14, she was the youngest of the main cast members and remained on the show through all eight seasons, evolving from the annoying, youngest member to someone enduring tumultuous romantic and career-oriented plots. Her shrill voice and entitled demeanor were iconic, especially in her relationships with Kelso, then Hyde, then Fez.
But ‘That ’70s Show’ isn’t the only long-standing TV role Kunis is known for. She has also been the distinctive voice of Meg Griffin on the raunchy animated ‘Family Guy’ since 1999, contributing to some highly controversial TV moments over the years. Her big breakthrough in live-action film came in 2008 with her starring role in ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall.’ Both the film and Kunis’ performance garnered rave reviews, opening the floodgates for more roles to come her way.
Having been happily married to Ashton Kutcher since 2015, with two kids, Wyatt and Dimitri, born in 2014 and 2016 respectively, Kunis appears to be incredibly grateful for the life they’ve built together. She shared with E! News, “When you get older, then you realize you can’t buy time and you can’t buy health, so the second you have time and the second you [get] health, you’re like, ‘Wow, I’m so lucky.'” This perspective reflects her appreciation for life’s simpler, yet most profound, blessings.
Kunis, a proud native of Ukraine, also demonstrated her powerful philanthropic spirit alongside Kutcher. In an inspiring move, they launched a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to raise funds for the country during Russia’s invasion in 2022. A year later, the fund had raised more than $37 million for impacted Ukrainians. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, she and Kutcher formed Quarantine Wine, donating all profits to coronavirus-related charities, showcasing their commitment to giving back.
5. **Wilmer Valderrama (Fez): From Foreign Exchange Student to Global Ambassador**Wilmer Valderrama was everyone’s favorite foreign exchange student, Fez, on ‘That ’70s Show.’ His character, an odd mix of innocence and raging machismo, was fascinated with the world around him, often espousing his love of candy, baked goods, and dancing. He was a curious and beloved outsider, and after the show ended in 2006, Valderrama kept himself incredibly active in film, television, and beyond.
Early on, he notably hosted and executive produced the MTV trash-talking competition show, ‘Yo Momma,’ until 2007. He also enjoyed recurring roles on a number of shows like ‘Awake,’ ‘From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series,’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ Proving his enduring connection with his former castmates, he’s also enjoyed guest appearances in several of his ‘That ’70s Show’ co-stars’ projects, including Laura Prepon’s ‘Are You There, Chelsea?’ and Ashton Kutcher’s ‘The Ranch.’
Valderrama’s love life has also kept him in the spotlight. Throughout the 2000s, he was in a number of widely publicized relationships with starlets much younger than him, such as Mandy Moore, Lindsay Lohan, and Demi Lovato. In 2022, Lovato even released the damning song, ’29,’ thought to be about their relationship. He eventually settled down with model Amanda Pacheco, and the couple welcomed their first child together in 2021.
Now a family man, Valderrama has reflected on the legacy he hopes he and the close-knit ’70s Show’ cast will use to help raise their broods. He shared with E! News, “We really joke around that we’re going to have a ‘That ’70s’ dynasty.” In 2024, Valderrama published ‘An American Story: Everyone’s Invited,’ his memoir about his experiences as a Venezuelan-American immigrant and USO Global Ambassador, further cementing his impactful presence both on and off screen.
6. **Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman): The Giggling Matriarch Finds Her Stage**Debra Jo Rupp delighted audiences as the giggling matriarch Kitty Forman on ‘That ’70s Show’ throughout all eight seasons. Her character, the harried, busy working mom, was the opposite of her curmudgeonly husband Red in every way – sunny, optimistic, and doting on her son, Eric. Kitty loved having the whole gang of kids hang out, as it meant she could be closer to Eric, though she was often stressed by the ’70s economy, willful children, and her job as a nurse.
After the show ended in 2006, the veteran actress returned to her roots and took to the stage, which was her pre-’70s Show high-profile TV role. She appeared in a number of productions at prestigious venues like the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Barrington Stage Company. This included an acclaimed turn in the titular role of ‘Becoming Dr. Ruth,’ a one-person show about the world-famous sex therapist.
The show began its Off-Broadway run in 2013 and earned Rupp several nominations for Outstanding Solo Performance, as well as a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. Rupp shared with Broadway World about portraying a real person, “[It] was absolutely terrifying. But I think [Dr. Ruth and I] are actually very similar. We both have really high energy … and we’re both kind of strong. I was able to find that immediately and that helped a lot.” Rupp returned to the Off-Broadway stage in 2019 in ‘The Cake,’ which earned her another Drama League Award nomination for her performance.
It wasn’t just theatre that kept Rupp active. On TV, she enjoyed appearances on ‘The Ranch’ alongside her ‘That ’70s Show’ co-star Ashton Kutcher, and had a recurring role on the Disney+ series ‘WandaVision,’ where she helped deliver the truth about the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mrs. Hart. She also appeared in ‘Agatha All Along,’ continuing her presence in popular culture.
7. **Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman): The Curmudgeonly Dad Who Kept Us Grounded**If there was one character who could deliver a stern glare and a perfectly timed ‘dumbass’ with unparalleled precision, it was Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman. The curmudgeonly patriarch of the Forman household, Red was the no-nonsense counterbalance to Kitty’s sunny disposition. Smith, a veteran actor already known for playing villains and authority figures in films like ‘RoboCop,’ truly made Red his own, even telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he’s “my favorite character because I was with him so long.”
After ‘That ’70s Show’ wrapped in 2006, Smith remained a busy man, proving he was more than just Red Forman (though we’ll always love him for it!). His distinctive voice became a staple in animation, lending his talents to popular cartoons such as ‘Family Guy,’ ‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series,’ ‘Beware the Batman,’ and ‘Rick and Morty.’ He also took on various live-action guest roles in shows like ’24’ and ‘Agent Carter,’ showcasing his continued versatility.
Even off-screen, Red’s spirit lives on! Smith has shared amusing anecdotes about fans who approach him, eager to experience his character’s famous catchphrase. He told Collider that people “come up and they go, ‘Hey man, can you call me a dumbass?'” His classic retort? “Anybody who wants to be called a dumbass is a dumbass.” And then, of course, he’d oblige, much to their delight. What a legend!
8. **Tommy Chong (Leo Chingkwake): Still Keeping It Chill, Decades Later**No ’70s basement circle would be complete without the ultimate laid-back guru, Leo Chingkwake, portrayed by the legendary Tommy Chong. As one half of the iconic Cheech and Chong duo, Chong brought his signature happy hippie vibe to ‘That ’70s Show,’ evolving from a recurring character to a beloved fixture. His character, a photo development hut operator with a mysteriously forgotten rich backstory, often served as a quirky father figure to Hyde, adding to the show’s authentic stoner comedy reputation.
Chong’s time on the show wasn’t without its bumps in the road. After Season 4, he was notably absent for two seasons due to an arrest and jail time for selling glass pipes online. But ever the survivor, he returned for the final two seasons after serving his nine-month sentence, reminding everyone that you can’t keep a good hippie down.
Since the show ended in 2006, Chong has continued to keep busy and embrace new ventures. He competed on celebrity reality shows like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2014 and ‘The Masked Singer’ in 2019, bringing his unique charm to a whole new audience. He also lent his distinctive voice to animated projects, including Disney’s ‘Zootopia’ and, naturally, ‘Cheech & Chong’s Animated Movie,’ alongside his partner-in-crime, Cheech Marin.
Beyond entertainment, Chong has remained a vocal advocate for marijuana legalization, contributing to ‘Cannabis Culture’ and serving on the advisory board of NORML. In 2008, he and Cheech Marin revived their long-dormant act with the “Light Up America” tour, leading to multiple TV appearances and a career-spanning documentary, ‘Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie,’ in 2024. He even launched his own signature cannabis lines, Chong’s Choice, in 2016, proving he’s still all about that green.
Catching up with these beloved actors, whether they’re still gracing our screens, building new careers, or simply enjoying family life, offers a wonderful blend of nostalgia and real-world updates. Their legacies, both on and off screen, continue to shape our pop culture landscape and remind us of the enduring power of television. So here’s to the cast members who shaped a decade, giving us laughs, lessons, and a whole lot of ’70s charm!
