When That '70s Show debuted on Fox in 1998, it launched the careers of a tight-knit group of unknown young actors alongside seasoned comedy veterans. Set in the sleepy fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin, the sitcom captured the eccentricities of the 1970s through a haze of basement smoke, circle conversations, and classic rock. Decades after the final episode aired in 2006, the core ensemble has navigated vastly different paths, ranging from blockbuster movie stardom and tech entrepreneurship to dramatic reinventions and severe legal controversies.
Understanding what happened to the youthful ensemble requires looking past the nostalgia. While some actors evolved into household names and executive producers, others faced career-altering legal trials or transitioned entirely away from mainstream network television.
Topher Grace as Eric Forman
As the anchor of the series, Eric Forman served as the sarcastic, Star Wars-obsessed focal point around whom the basement crew revolved. Topher Grace made the unusual choice to leave the show a year before its final season to pursue film opportunities, a gamble that immediately landed him high-profile roles.
Grace transitioned directly into major studio features, playing Eddie Brock/Venom in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 and starring in the sci-fi thriller Predators. Rather than chasing conventional leading-man status, he carved out a niche as a versatile character actor. He earned critical acclaim for playing Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman and starred in ABC's medical drama Home Economics. Outside of acting, Grace built a reputation for creative film editing, assembling well-known fan cuts of major cinematic franchises, and later reprised his role as Eric in the Netflix legacy sequel That '90s Show.
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart
Mila Kunis was just fourteen years old when she lied about her age to secure the role of spoiled, high-maintenance fashionista Jackie Burkhart. The show established her comedic timing, but her post-sitcom career quickly overshadowed her early television work.
Kunis achieved major box office success with her breakout performance in the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and cemented her dramatic chops with an Academy Award-nominated turn in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. She expanded her footprint into film production and starring roles in commercial hits like Ted and Bad Moms. In her personal life, Kunis married co-star Ashton Kutcher in 2015, with whom she shares two children. She made a brief return to the Point Place universe with a cameo appearance in That '90s Show.
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso
Ashton Kutcher played Michael Kelso, the dim-witted, pretty-boy heartthrob whose physical comedy defined much of the show's early run. Like Grace, Kutcher departed the series before the final season to launch a massive film and media career.
Kutcher established himself as a dominant force in romantic comedies during the 2000s, starring in Dude, Where's My Car? and No Strings Attached. He later transitioned to television by replacing Charlie Sheen on the hit CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men and starring in the Netflix multi-camera comedy The Ranch. Beyond acting, Kutcher built a parallel career as a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist and tech investor, co-founding A-Grade Investments and backing companies like Airbnb and Uber. He returned as Kelso alongside Kunis in That '90s Show.
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti
Laura Prepon portrayed Donna Pinciotti, Eric Forman's fiercely independent, basketball-playing next-door neighbor. Following the conclusion of the sitcom, Prepon spent several years navigating pilot seasons before landing a defining television role.
In 2013, Prepon secured international acclaim starring as Alex Vause in the landmark Netflix streaming drama Orange Is the New Black, a series that ran for seven successful seasons. In addition to acting, Prepon expanded into directing, helming several episodes of Orange Is the New Black, and authored a wellness and lifestyle book titled The Stash Plan. She reprised her role as Donna, now an adult parent, in That '90s Show.
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez
Wilmer Valderrama's hyper-enthusiastic foreign exchange student, Fez (whose country of origin was famously kept a running gag), relied heavily on physical comedy and cultural catchphrases. Valderrama capitalized on this versatility by avoiding typecasting entirely after the show wrapped.
Valderrama transitioned into long-running dramatic television, notably starring as Special Agent Nick Torres in the CBS procedural NCIS. He also lent his voice to major animated features, playing Agustín Madrigal in Disney's Academy Award-winning film Encanto. Valderrama brought his signature energy back to the franchise by returning as an older, eccentric Fez running a local hair salon in That '90s Show.
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde
Danny Masterson played Steven Hyde, the cynical, conspiracy-theorizing rock music aficionado who lived with the Forman family. For years following the series finale, Masterson maintained a steady television presence, reuniting with Ashton Kutcher on the Netflix multi-camera sitcom The Ranch.
Masterson's career came to a complete halt in 2017 when multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual assault. Following a high-profile criminal trial, a Los Angeles jury convicted Masterson of two counts of forcible rape in 2023. He was subsequently sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison. Due to his criminal conviction and subsequent imprisonment, Masterson was entirely excluded from the That '90s Show revival.
The Veterans: Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp
The anchor of the domestic scenes in the Forman household relied on veteran actors Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman) and Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman). Their on-screen chemistry provided the emotional core of the series, balancing harsh Midwestern discipline with maternal warmth.
Both actors maintained prolific careers across stage and screen after the original series ended. Smith recurred in acclaimed dramas and sci-fi projects like Resurrection and The Dropout, while Rupp earned rave reviews for her theater work and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Disney+ series WandaVision. In a testament to their enduring appeal, Smith and Rupp stepped back into their iconic roles as series regulars and executive producers of That '90s Show, serving as the narrative bridge to the next generation of Point Place teenagers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher leave before the final season?
Both actors chose to exit the series at the conclusion of season seven to focus full-time on film careers. Topher Grace transitioned into feature films like Spider-Man 3, while Ashton Kutcher pursued starring roles in romantic comedies and early tech investments. Their characters were written out, though both made brief cameo appearances in the season eight finale.
Is the entire original main cast returning for That '90s Show?
Most of the surviving core ensemble members returned as guest stars or series regulars, including Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama. Danny Masterson did not participate due to his criminal conviction and imprisonment. Original cast members Lisa Robin Kelly (Laurie Forman) and Tanya Roberts (Midge Pinciotti) passed away prior to the production of the sequel series.
Where can I watch That '70s Show today?
The original series streams on Peacock, while its contemporary spin-off continuation, That '90s Show, streams exclusively on Netflix.
