It's been over twenty-five years since we first saw six teenagers sitting in a smoke-filled basement in Point Place, Wisconsin. Back then, they were just kids. Most of them were unknowns, earning a few thousand dollars an episode and probably wondering if the show would even survive its first season on Fox. Now? Everything is different. When you look at that 70s show cast now, you aren't just looking at a group of sitcom actors; you’re looking at venture capitalists, A-list movie stars, and, unfortunately, a few people who have faced serious legal battles.
The nostalgia is real. Especially with That '90s Show hitting Netflix and bringing back most of the original gang for cameos. It makes you realize how much time has actually passed. We’ve watched them grow up, get married, get divorced, and navigate the weird, often brutal machinery of Hollywood.
The Power Couple: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis
Let’s be honest. Nobody saw this coming in 1998. Michael Kelso and Jackie Burkhart were the "on-again, off-again" couple that everyone expected to flame out. In real life, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis didn't even start dating until years after the show ended. Ashton spent years being the "punk'd" guy and a massive rom-com lead before transitioning into something much more lucrative: tech investing. He was an early investor in companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify. If you look at his net worth today, it’s not really coming from acting residuals anymore. He’s a legitimate Silicon Valley player.
Mila Kunis has had an arguably even more impressive acting career. She’s the voice of Meg Griffin on Family Guy—a gig that has lasted decades—and she broke into "serious" acting with Black Swan. She’s become a massive producer too. Together, they’ve become one of the most private yet influential couples in the industry. They famously announced they aren't leaving their massive fortune to their kids, preferring they "earn it" themselves. It’s a far cry from Jackie Burkhart demanding a new sweater, isn't it?
Topher Grace: The Leading Man Who Chose a Different Path
Topher Grace was the heart of the show as Eric Forman. When he left after Season 7, people thought he was making a mistake. He wanted to do movies. And he did. He played Venom in Spider-Man 3, which was... controversial, to say the least. But Topher didn't just stay in the blockbuster lane. He became a bit of a cult figure in the film world.
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He’s known for his "fan edits" of movies—like cutting the entire Star Wars prequel trilogy into one 85-minute film just for fun. It shows his brain works differently. Lately, he’s back on TV with Home Economics, but he still carries that awkward, dry wit that made Eric Forman relatable. He seems to have found a balance that most child stars miss. He’s working, he’s respected, and he stayed out of the tabloids.
The Dark Cloud: Danny Masterson
We have to talk about it. You can't look at the that 70s show cast now without acknowledging the massive, somber elephant in the room. Danny Masterson, who played the cool, conspiracy-theorist Steven Hyde, is currently serving 30 years to life in prison.
In 2023, he was convicted on two counts of forcible rape stemming from incidents in the early 2000s—right when the show was at its peak. The trial was intense. It brought up a lot of questions about the Church of Scientology and how much people knew back then. His former co-stars, including Kutcher and Kunis, even faced backlash for writing character letters to the judge before his sentencing. It’s a grim ending for a character that so many people loved for his "rebel with a heart of gold" persona. It has made rewatching the show difficult for a lot of fans.
Laura Prepon’s Career Shift
Donna Pinciotti was the girl next door, but Laura Prepon turned into something much more versatile. After the show, she had some lean years, but then Orange Is the New Black happened. Her portrayal of Alex Vause was a total 180 from Donna. It proved she had range.
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But if you look at her life now, she’s shifted heavily into the lifestyle space. She wrote a book called You and I, as Mothers and has a massive YouTube presence where she talks about cooking and "The Prep-On" method for meal planning. She also made headlines recently for announcing that she is no longer a practicing Scientologist, a major shift considering how vocal she used to be about the organization.
Wilmer Valderrama is Everywhere
Seriously. How is Wilmer Valderrama in everything? Fez was the "foreign exchange student" caricature, but Wilmer used that as a springboard to become a massive producer and a staple on NCIS. He’s also the new Zorro for Disney.
He’s arguably the most active member of the cast in terms of traditional TV. He also became a bit of a "Hollywood bachelor" for a long time—dating everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Demi Lovato—before settling down and becoming a father. He’s handled the transition from "the funny kid with the accent" to "serious action lead" better than almost anyone could have predicted.
The Parents: Red and Kitty Today
Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp are the anchors. Without them, the show would have just been another teen soap. Kurtwood (Red) is still working constantly. He’s the type of actor who shows up in everything from Patriot to The Dropout. He’s 80 now, but he still has that terrifying "foot in your ass" energy that made Red Forman an icon.
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Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) is just as busy. She’s joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in WandaVision and Agatha All Along. Seeing her play a suburban housewife in a magical world felt like a perfect nod to her time as Kitty Forman. The two of them are the main reason That '90s Show has any soul at all—they are the only original cast members who returned as series regulars.
Why We Still Care About the Point Place Gang
Sitcoms come and go. Most of them are forgotten the minute the laugh track stops. But That '70s Show hit a specific nerve. It captured that feeling of being stuck in a small town with nothing to do but hang out with people you sometimes can't stand.
Looking at the that 70s show cast now, it’s a reflection of life. Some people got rich. Some people changed their entire belief systems. Some people made terrible, life-altering mistakes. It’s not a perfect Hollywood ending for everyone, and maybe that’s why the show still feels relevant.
Moving Forward: How to Re-engage With the Show
If you’re looking to dive back into the world of Point Place, here is the best way to do it without getting bogged down in the drama.
- Watch 'That '90s Show' for the Cameos: Don't expect it to be the original. It’s a different beast. But seeing the original cast (minus Masterson) pop in for a few scenes is genuinely heartwarming.
- Check Out Topher Grace’s Socials: If you want to see the "real" Eric Forman, his social media is actually pretty funny and reveals a lot about his editing hobbies.
- Follow Laura Prepon’s Cooking Tips: If you’re a fan of the "lifestyle" side of things, her kitchen tips are surprisingly practical.
- Research the Legal Context: If the Masterson situation interests you, look into the reporting by journalists like Tony Ortega who covered the intersection of the trial and Scientology extensively.
The legacy of the show is complicated now. It’s no longer just a bright, colorful comedy about the seventies. It’s a time capsule of an era in Hollywood where these actors were the biggest stars on the planet. Seeing where they landed—for better or worse—is a reminder that even the kids from the basement eventually have to grow up and face the real world.