It’s actually kinda wild when you think about it. Most sitcoms from the late nineties just sort of fade into that weird, blurry memory of syndication and "where are they now" listicles. But the cast of That 70s Show? They didn’t just stick around. They basically took over Hollywood. From massive Netflix spin-offs like That 90s Show to blockbuster movie franchises and high-profile venture capital firms, the basement crew from Point Place turned out to be one of the most successful talent incubators in television history. Honestly, it’s a bit of an anomaly.
Think about the hit rate here. Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama. It’s rare for a single ensemble to produce that many genuine A-listers. Most shows get one breakout star. Maybe two if they’re lucky. Friends had it, sure. But for a show that started with a bunch of literal teenagers—some of whom had zero acting experience—the trajectory is staggering.
The rise of the basement crew
Let's talk about how this all started. When the show premiered in 1998, the creators (Bonnie and Terry Turner) weren't looking for polished professionals. They wanted kids who felt real. Or at least, real for a heightened sitcom version of 1976 Wisconsin.
Topher Grace was essentially discovered in a high school play. He wasn't even "an actor" in the professional sense yet. He played Eric Forman with this specific, neurotic dry wit that became the anchor of the show. While some fans were annoyed when he left after Season 7 to pursue film—landing the role of Venom in Spider-Man 3—his career since has been fascinatingly diverse. He’s moved from big-budget stuff to prestige roles in films like BlacKkKlansman. He’s not just "Eric" anymore; he’s a character actor with serious range.
Then you have Mila Kunis. Most people know the story by now, but it’s still funny: she lied about her age. She was 14. The producers wanted 18-year-olds. She told them she'd be 18 on her birthday, she just didn't specify which birthday. It worked. Jackie Burkhart started as a one-dimensional "spoiled brat" trope and ended up being the heart of some of the show's best emotional beats. Kunis, of course, went on to become a global movie star with Black Swan and Bad Moms, not to mention voicing Meg Griffin on Family Guy for over twenty years. Talk about longevity.
Why the cast of That 70s Show stayed relevant
It wasn't just luck. A lot of it came down to how they managed their brands after the bell-bottoms were retired.
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Take Ashton Kutcher. He played Kelso, the lovable idiot. It’s a role that could have easily pigeonholed him forever. Instead, he used that "pretty boy" momentum to launch Punk'd, then transitioned into a tech mogul. Through his venture capital firm, A-Grade Investments, he was an early investor in companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify. He’s arguably more influential in Silicon Valley now than he is in Burbank. It’s a pivot nobody saw coming in 1998.
Laura Prepon took a completely different route. Donna Pinciotti was the "girl next door" with a feminist streak, but Prepon reinvented herself entirely as Alex Vause in Orange Is the New Black. It was a gritty, transformative role that wiped away the sitcom veneer.
Wilmer Valderrama? He's the guy who never stops working. Fez was a caricature, let’s be real. It was a product of its time that hasn't always aged perfectly. But Valderrama leveraged that fame into a massive career as both an actor and a producer. He’s been a staple on NCIS for years and is currently spearheading a Zorro reboot. He basically refused to let the industry typecast him as the "funny foreign exchange student."
The complications and the dark side
You can't talk about the cast of That 70s Show without addressing the elephant in the room. The legacy of the show has been heavily complicated by the legal troubles of Danny Masterson, who played Steven Hyde. In 2023, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison following convictions on two counts of forcible rape.
This created a massive rift in the public perception of the cast. During the trial, it came to light that several co-stars, including Kutcher and Kunis, had written letters of support to the judge regarding Masterson’s character. The backlash was swift and severe. They later released a video apology, but for many fans, it tarnished the "family" image the cast had maintained for decades.
It also explains why Hyde is noticeably absent from any mention or footage in the sequel series, That 90s Show. The character was the "cool older brother" figure to Eric, but in light of real-world events, the show has had to distance itself entirely from that legacy. It’s a stark reminder that the chemistry we see on screen doesn't always reflect the full reality of the people behind the characters.
The guest stars you forgot were there
Part of the show's magic was its revolving door of legendary guest stars. It wasn't just the kids; the show was a magnet for icons.
- Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp: Honestly, they carried the show. Red and Kitty Forman are the GOAT sitcom parents. Kurtwood Smith brought a "terrifying but loving" energy that shouldn't have worked, but it did.
- Tommy Chong: As Leo, he didn't even have to act. He just showed up and was Tommy Chong.
- The Cameos: Remember when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson played his own father, Rocky Johnson? Or when Amy Adams showed up before she was an Oscar-nominated powerhouse? Even Alice Cooper and Gloria Gaynor made appearances.
The show was a bridge between the actual 70s icons and the new generation of Hollywood. It gave the series a sense of legitimacy that other nostalgia-bait shows lacked.
What's happening now with That 90s Show?
Netflix leaned hard into the nostalgia with the 2023 reboot. It follows Eric and Donna’s daughter, Leia, as she spends the summer in Point Place.
The coolest part? Seeing the original cast of That 70s Show return for cameos. Watching Topher Grace and Laura Prepon play parents is a trip. It highlights the passage of time in a way that feels earned. While the new kids are the focus, the show's DNA is still firmly rooted in what the original group built. It’s currently one of the few "reboot" projects that actually managed to capture some of the original lightning in a bottle, mostly because they kept Red and Kitty as the permanent leads.
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Breaking down the success: Why this cast?
Why did they all make it when the cast of, say, Dawson's Creek or The O.C. had a more hit-or-miss track record?
- Work Ethic: Most of them started producing their own content early. They didn't just wait for the phone to ring.
- Genre Pivoting: They weren't afraid to leave the "teen" label behind. Prepon went to prestige TV, Kutcher went to tech/drama, Grace went to indie film.
- The "Forman" Training: Working on a multi-cam sitcom in front of a live audience is like boot camp for timing. It’s hard. If you can survive eight seasons of that, you can do anything.
Actionable insights for fans and collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of the show or collect memorabilia, here is the current state of play:
- Streaming Rights: As of now, the show is a bit of a nomad. It moves between platforms like Peacock and Hulu depending on licensing deals. If you want a permanent copy, the Blu-ray sets are actually worth getting because they preserve the original 4:3 aspect ratio better than some cropped streaming versions.
- The Original Wardrobe: Authentic screen-worn items from the show occasionally pop up on auction sites like Prop Store or Heritage Auctions. However, be wary of "reproduction" items sold as originals. True props usually come with a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) from Carsey-Werner Productions.
- Podcast Deep Dives: For the real "behind the scenes" stories, look for interviews on Off Camera with Sam Jones or Armchair Expert. Several cast members have done long-form interviews there that go way beyond the standard PR talking points.
The legacy of the cast of That 70s Show is a weird mix of massive professional triumph and complex personal controversy. They defined an era of television and then proceeded to define the careers of modern Hollywood stars. Whether you're watching the original reruns or catching the new generation in the 90s, there's no denying the impact that group of kids from Wisconsin had on the world.
To stay updated on what the cast is doing next, follow the production updates for That 90s Show Season 3 or check the latest film festival circuits, where Topher Grace and Mila Kunis are frequent regulars. For those interested in the business side, Ashton Kutcher’s venture capital filings are public and provide a fascinating look at where he's putting his money next.