It’s actually kinda wild how a show about a bunch of bored kids in a Wisconsin basement became the definitive launchpad for an entire generation of Hollywood A-listers. When you look back at the cast of That 70s Show, you aren't just looking at a sitcom ensemble. You're looking at the early 2000s zeitgeist in its rawest form.
Some stayed in the spotlight. Some stayed in the courtroom.
If you grew up watching Topher Grace trip over his own feet or Kelso fall off the water tower, you probably feel like you know these people. But the reality behind the scenes of Point Place was a lot more complicated than just "hanging out, down the street." Between massive movie careers, high-profile marriages, and some genuinely dark legal battles, the legacy of this group is anything but simple.
The Core Six: From the Basement to the A-List
Let’s be honest, nobody expected the skinny kid playing Eric Forman to become a movie star. Topher Grace was basically discovered in a high school play by the show's creators, Bonnie and Terry Turner. He had zero professional experience. None. It’s sort of a miracle he held the show together as the "straight man" for seven seasons. When Topher left in 2005 to pursue a film career, the show basically collapsed under its own weight. He did Spider-Man 3, which was... a choice, but he’s since carved out a niche as a high-tier character actor in things like Blakkklansman.
Then there’s Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher.
Mila famously lied about her age to get the part of Jackie Burkhart, telling producers she’d be 18 on her birthday—she just didn't specify which birthday. She was 14. Watching her grow up on screen is fascinating because you can actually hear her voice change as the seasons progress. And Ashton? He was a model from Iowa who happened to have perfect comedic timing as the "lovable idiot" Michael Kelso. The fact that they ended up married in real life years later feels like fan fiction, but it’s arguably the most successful "win" for any sitcom pairing in history.
Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti) took a different path. She transitioned from the "girl next door with a feminist streak" to a major player in the streaming era with Orange Is the New Black. It’s funny looking back at Donna and Eric’s relationship now. In the late 90s, they were the "goals" couple, but re-watching it today, you see a lot of the toxic high school dynamics that the show actually handled with a lot of nuance for its time.
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The Danny Masterson Situation: A Dark Cloud Over the Legacy
We have to talk about it. You can't discuss the cast of That 70s Show without addressing the elephant in the room: Danny Masterson. He played Steven Hyde, the rebellious, anti-establishment heart of the group. For years, Hyde was the fan favorite because he was the "cool" one who saw through the BS of the era.
The reality turned out to be much darker.
In 2023, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two counts of forcible rape. The crimes happened in the early 2000s, right while the show was at its peak. It has made re-watching the series incredibly difficult for a lot of people. When the sequel series That 90s Show launched on Netflix, Masterson was the only original teen cast member noticeably absent. His character wasn't even mentioned. The show basically erased Hyde, which was a necessary move, but it leaves a gaping hole in the nostalgia for many.
Wilmer Valderrama and the Fez Mystery
Wilmer Valderrama’s portrayal of Fez—Foreign Exchange Student—is one of those things that hasn't aged perfectly. The joke was always that nobody knew where he was from. He had a vague accent that Wilmer actually invented himself to avoid offending any specific culture.
Valderrama is a hustler. Plain and simple.
While others struggled to find their footing post-sitcom, Wilmer stayed booked. He did Handy Manny, he did Grey’s Anatomy, and now he’s the face of NCIS. He’s also the guy who basically stayed friends with everyone. If you see a photo of the cast hanging out privately, Wilmer is usually the one who organized the dinner. He’s the glue.
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Why the Parents Were Secretly the Best Part
Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp. Red and Kitty Forman.
Honestly, the show wouldn't have lasted two seasons without them. Red's "foot in your ass" routine was the perfect foil to the hippie-dippie vibes of the kids. Kurtwood Smith is a classically trained actor who played a terrifying villain in RoboCop, yet he became the quintessential 70s dad. Debra Jo Rupp’s nervous laugh is iconic. It’s a sound you can hear just by thinking about it.
They are the only ones who returned as series regulars for the 2023 revival. It makes sense. You can't have the house without the foundation. Watching them play grandparents in the same kitchen 20 years later is a weirdly emotional experience for anyone who grew up with the original run.
The Tragic Loss of Lisa Robin Kelly
There's a sadder note to the cast's history. Lisa Robin Kelly, who played Eric’s manipulative sister Laurie, was a comedic powerhouse. She had incredible chemistry with the rest of the cast, but she struggled deeply with addiction.
She was eventually replaced in Season 6 by Christina Moore, which never quite felt right. The "New Laurie" lacked that sharp, mean-spirited edge that Lisa brought to the role. Sadly, Lisa Robin Kelly passed away in 2013. It’s one of those Hollywood stories that reminds you that behind the bright lights and the laugh tracks, these were real people dealing with very real, very heavy issues.
Ranking the Career Longevity
If you’re looking at who "won" the post-show career race, it’s a toss-up.
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- Mila Kunis: Full-blown movie star. Black Swan, Ted, Bad Moms. She's the most "famous" in the traditional sense.
- Ashton Kutcher: Tech mogul. He’s made more money investing in Uber and Airbnb than he ever did acting.
- Topher Grace: The indie darling. He does what he wants, including editing the Star Wars prequels into one single movie for fun.
- Laura Prepon: The TV titan. Two massive, decade-defining hits (That 70s Show and OITNB).
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
People think the show was a hit immediately. It wasn't. It struggled early on to find its voice. It was originally going to be called Teenage Wasteland, but they couldn't get the rights to the song.
The chemistry you see on screen wasn't faked. These people were genuinely kids when they started. They grew up together. Ashton and Mila’s first kiss was literally on camera for a script. That kind of shared history creates a bond that most TV casts never achieve. It’s also why the Masterson news hit the other cast members so hard; they were a family, and finding out a family member did something horrific is a trauma of its own.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Rewatchers
If you're planning a deep dive back into Point Place, here is the best way to handle it:
- Watch Season 1-5 for the Peak: This is when the writing was at its sharpest and the cast was most cohesive.
- Skip Season 8 (Mostly): Without Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher, the show lost its soul. The addition of Josh Meyers as "Randy" is widely considered one of the biggest "jump the shark" moments in sitcom history.
- Check out That 90s Show: It’s actually better than people give it credit for. It captures the spirit of the original without trying to be a carbon copy.
- Listen to Podcasts: Wilmer Valderrama and others have done long-form interviews on podcasts like Armchair Expert (Ashton’s best friend Dax Shepard’s show) where they get into the nitty-gritty of what those years were actually like.
The cast of That 70s Show remains a fascinating study in Hollywood survival. They gave us a window into a decade they didn't even live through, and in doing so, they defined the childhoods of everyone who watched them in the 90s and 2000s. Whether you're there for Red's insults or Jackie's outfits, the show's staying power is undeniable.
Take a look at the credits next time you watch. You'll see names that have since won Oscars, Emmys, and shaped the cultural landscape of the 21st century. Not bad for a bunch of kids from Wisconsin.