That ’70s Show: Where Are the Stars Now?

Before becoming synonymous with 2000s nostalgia, That ’70s Show took the opposite approach: it used the 1970s as a backdrop to entertain a generation of teenagers growing up in the 1990s. Premiering on Fox in 1998, the series followed a group of friends from Wisconsin who spent much of their time hanging out in the Forman family basement. Between school problems, first loves, parties, teenage rebellion, and constant lectures from their parents, the show found a winning formula that blended comedy with nostalgia. Over eight seasons and 200 episodes, That ’70s Show turned relatively unknown young actors into major Hollywood names. Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and Laura Prepon were among the biggest beneficiaries of the show's success. Decades later, the franchise even returned with That ’90s Show on Netflix, bringing back several members of the original cast. But what happened to the stars after they left Point Place?

Topher Grace — Eric Forman

Topher Grace was one of the first members of the cast to pursue new challenges. He left That ’70s Show during its seventh season to focus on movies, a decision that opened the door to major Hollywood productions. Grace appeared in films such as Spider-Man 3 and Interstellar, but it was a very different kind of role that highlighted his dramatic potential. In Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, he portrayed real-life Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, delivering a performance that revealed a more mature side of his acting. After moving back and forth between film and television, Grace returned to starring in a sitcom with Home Economics, which premiered on ABC in 2021. In his personal life, the actor is married to actress Ashley Hinshaw, with whom he has three children — a life far removed from Eric Forman's teenage adventures in the Point Place basement.

Mila Kunis — Jackie Burkhart

Mila Kunis was only 14 years old when she landed the role of Jackie Burkhart. To audition for the part, she reportedly lied about her age because the producers were looking for an older actress. The gamble paid off. After That ’70s Show, Kunis built a successful film career, moving effortlessly between comedies such as Ted and Bad Moms and more dramatic productions. Another major role began while she was still working on the sitcom. Since 1999, Kunis has voiced Meg Griffin on Family Guy, making her the voice behind one of animation's most recognizable teenage characters. Her personal life also became unexpectedly connected to the show. Kunis married Ashton Kutcher, her former co-star and the actor who played Michael Kelso.

Ashton Kutcher — Michael Kelso

For Ashton Kutcher, That ’70s Show was literally the beginning of his acting career. Playing the lovable but dim-witted Michael Kelso turned the former model into a television star and eventually a major Hollywood actor. Kutcher went on to star in numerous romantic comedies and successful films while also building a second career as a technology investor and entrepreneur. In recent years, however, his career has also been affected by controversy surrounding Danny Masterson, his former co-star. Kutcher and Mila Kunis publicly expressed support for Masterson during his legal proceedings, a move that sparked significant backlash. Despite the controversy, Kutcher agreed to return to the That ’70s Show universe. He appeared in That ’90s Show and explained that part of the reason he came back was gratitude toward the series that had changed his life. According to Kutcher, both he and Kunis owe much of their success to the show.

Laura Prepon — Donna Pinciotti

After playing Donna Pinciotti, Laura Prepon found another major television role in Orange Is the New Black. She portrayed Alex Vause, a character who became one of the most acclaimed performances of her career. Prepon also explored several other professional paths. She became an author and entrepreneur, co-writing the wellness book The Stash Plan, released in 2016, and publishing the motherhood guide You & I, as Mothers in 2020. She also developed her own line of kitchen products and eventually returned to the role that made her famous worldwide. In That ’90s Show, Prepon reprised Donna and also stepped behind the camera to direct episodes of the series, expanding her work into directing.

Wilmer Valderrama — Fez

Wilmer Valderrama spent eight seasons playing Fez, the eccentric foreign exchange student whose mysterious homeland became one of the show's recurring jokes. After That ’70s Show ended, Valderrama proved that he was not interested in being defined by a single character. He voiced the title character in Disney's animated series Handy Manny and later won over a new generation of viewers as part of the cast of NCIS. His career also took on an important dimension outside acting. Valderrama became an outspoken advocate for Latino representation in Hollywood, using his platform to discuss the visibility and opportunities available to Latino actors in the entertainment industry.

Danny Masterson — Steven Hyde

Danny Masterson played Steven Hyde, Eric's rebellious and sarcastic friend. For many years, he was considered one of the most successful members of the show's young cast outside the series. His career, however, took a dramatic turn. In 2023, Masterson was convicted of raping two women and sentenced to prison, bringing a major end to his acting career and profoundly affecting his public image. The case also had repercussions for several of his former co-stars, particularly after public statements of support were made during the legal proceedings.

Debra Jo Rupp — Kitty Forman

If anyone could match Red Forman's explosive personality, it was Kitty. Played by Debra Jo Rupp, Eric's mother became one of the show's most beloved characters thanks to her affectionate, over-the-top, and often hilarious personality. Rupp continued working steadily after That ’70s Show ended. She had a recurring role on The Ranch and played social worker Linda on This Is Us, among many other projects. She also returned to the world of Point Place in That ’90s Show, once again playing Kitty Forman.

Kurtwood Smith — Red Forman

Before becoming the grumpy Red Forman, Kurtwood Smith had already spent nearly two decades working as a character actor. It was, however, his role as the Forman family patriarch that gave him one of his most recognizable characters. After That ’70s Show ended, Smith continued appearing in television shows and movies, taking roles in productions such as 24, Medium, Agent Carter, and The Ranch. He also worked as a voice actor on animated productions including Regular Show and F Is for Family. One of his more recent notable roles came in the miniseries The Dropout, in which he portrayed attorney David Boies in the story surrounding Elizabeth Holmes. His partnership with Debra Jo Rupp also continued beyond That ’70s Show. The two reunited on screen in 2019 for an unaired ABC pilot and eventually returned as Red and Kitty in That ’90s Show. In his personal life, Smith has a daughter from his first marriage and has been married to Joan Pirkle since 1988.

Never Really Left the Basement

More than two decades after its debut, That ’70s Show still holds a special place in the memories of those who grew up watching it. For many of its stars, the series was only the beginning of careers that would eventually take them in very different directions. Some became movie stars. Others found new success on television, while some expanded their careers into directing, writing, or entrepreneurship. And although the original cast eventually went their separate ways, the franchise found a way back to television. With That ’90s Show, the story moved forward two decades, introducing a new generation to the Forman house — and proving that sometimes nostalgia really does know the way back home.