That '70s Show Cast Then and Now: Heartbreaking Downfalls and Where the Gang Is Today

When That '70s Show premiered on Fox on August 23, 1998, it captured lightning in a bottle. In an era when network television was crowded with polished twenty-something sitcoms, this retro coming-of-age comedy transported viewers back to bell-bottoms, disco, vinyl records, and hazy basement smoke circles in Point Place, Wisconsin.

Anchored by awkward teenager Eric Forman (Topher Grace), his fierce next-door crush Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), conspiratorial rebel Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson), handsome goofball Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), self-absorbed Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis), and foreign exchange student Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), the ensemble felt refreshingly authentic.

Backed by veteran legends Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman) and Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman), the series ran for eight seasons and 200 episodes, launching multiple unknown teenagers into global Hollywood A-listers.

Yet, over two decades after the gang took their final spin in the Vista Cruiser, the lives of the actors have taken wildly divergent paths—from blockbuster movie success and high-profile marriages to tragic losses and shocking legal downfalls. Where is That '70s Show cast today? Here is the complete untold story.

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1. Topher Grace (Eric Forman)

As the sarcastic, scrawny moral compass of the basement crew, Topher Grace carried the emotional heart of the series. However, by Season 7, Grace was eager to pursue film opportunities, leading to his abrupt exit before the final season (with Eric famously sent off to teach in Africa).

Grace transitioned successfully into cinema, landing high-profile roles such as Eddie Brock/Venom in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, Predators, Interstellar, and critically acclaimed performances in Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman. Grace later returned to network comedy as the star of ABC's Home Economics and made a touching guest appearance in Netflix's 2023 spin-off revival, That '90s Show.

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2. Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso)

Before landing the role of the lovable, dimwitted heartthrob Michael Kelso, Ashton Kutcher was a Midwestern model with virtually zero professional acting experience. His goofy charm, physical comedy, and iconic catchphrase ("Burn!") made him an overnight cultural sensation.

Kutcher leveraged that fame into one of the most versatile careers in Hollywood. He created and hosted MTV's legendary prank show Punk'd, starred in hit romantic comedies (Dude, Where's My Car?, No Strings Attached), and replaced Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men.

Beyond acting, Kutcher established himself as an extraordinarily shrewd Silicon Valley venture capitalist, making early, massively lucrative investments in tech unicorns like Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify. He is also the co-founder of Thorn, a prominent non-profit tech organization dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation online.

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3. Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart)

Mila Kunis' journey on the show began with a famous little white lie: she was only 14 years old when she auditioned, telling producers she would be 18 on her birthday (conveniently omitting which birthday!). By the time network executives discovered her real age, her fiery, comedic chemistry as the spoiled Jackie was undeniable.

Kunis has gone on to become one of the most successful and respected actresses in modern cinema. She has voiced Meg Griffin on Family Guy for over two decades and delivered award-winning dramatic performances in films like Black Swan (earning a Golden Globe nomination), Friends with Benefits, Ted, and Bad Moms.

In one of Hollywood's most beloved fairy-tale romances, Kunis married her former on-screen boyfriend Ashton Kutcher in 2015, fourteen years after their first scripted teenage kiss on the show. The couple shares two children.

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4. The Tragic Fall of Hyde: Danny Masterson

Perhaps no character resonated with cynical, anti-establishment teenagers quite like Steven Hyde. With his tinted aviator sunglasses, rock band t-shirts, afro, and distrust of corporate America, Hyde was the cool, wise-cracking brother figure who held the gang together.

Following the series, Danny Masterson continued to work steadily, reuniting with Ashton Kutcher to co-star in Netflix's hit comedy The Ranch.

However, beginning in 2017, disturbing allegations of sexual assault dating back to the height of the sitcom's popularity (between 2001 and 2003) surfaced against Masterson. He was fired from The Ranch, and criminal charges were filed. Following two emotional, high-profile criminal trials in Los Angeles, Masterson was convicted in May 2023 on two counts of forcible rape.

In September 2023, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in California state prison. The scandal rocked Hollywood, particularly after private character letters written by co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis to the sentencing judge sparked widespread public backlash, for which both actors subsequently issued public apologies. Due to his conviction, Masterson’s character was completely excluded from the Netflix spin-off That '90s Show.

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5. Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti)

As the feminist, music-loving Donna Pinciotti, Laura Prepon brought intelligence, warmth, and grounded strength to the gang. Donna and Eric's turbulent high school romance was the emotional spine of the entire eight-season run.

After the sitcom wrapped, Prepon made a triumphant return to television in Netflix’s revolutionary hit Orange Is the New Black, portraying Alex Vause to critical acclaim and earning multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards. Prepon has also expanded her career into television directing, wellness authorship, and culinary entrepreneurial ventures.

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6. Wilmer Valderrama (Fez)

Wilmer Valderrama’s portrayal of Fez—the candy-obsessed, perpetually flirtatious foreign exchange student whose home country was an enduring running gag—was a fan-favorite comedic triumph.

Valderrama has enjoyed steady, uninterrupted longevity in primetime television. For nearly a decade, he has starred as Special Agent Nick Torres on CBS's flagship procedural NCIS. Valderrama is also an outspoken activist for Latino representation in media and prominent civic engagement organizations.

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7. The Unsung Heart: Red and Kitty Forman

No retrospective is complete without celebrating Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp.

As the hard-nosed, foot-in-ass threatening naval veteran Red Forman and his high-pitched, cocktail-loving, fiercely protective wife Kitty, Smith and Rupp provided the foundation that elevated the series from a teen farce into an authentic family classic. The duo officially reprised their iconic roles as series leads in Netflix's That '90s Show, proving that their comedic chemistry remains as timeless and sharp as ever.

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A Bittersweet Nostalgic Legacy

More than a quarter-century after audiences first heard Cheap Trick blast "In the Street" over the radio, That '70s Show remains an indelible cultural touchstone of late-90s television. While off-screen controversies and personal tragedies have undeniably complicated the show's legacy, the laughter, camaraderie, and nostalgic magic created in that Wisconsin basement will forever hold a sacred place in television history.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: In what year did That '70s Show air? A: That '70s Show originally aired on the Fox network from August 23, 1998, to May 18, 2006, spanning 8 seasons and 200 episodes.

Q: What happened to Hyde on That '70s Show? A: On screen, Steven Hyde became the manager of Grooves record store. Off screen, actor Danny Masterson was convicted in 2023 of sexual assault charges and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.

Q: Are Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis still married? A: Yes! After first meeting as co-stars in 1998, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis reconnected years later, married in July 2015, and have two children together.