Go retro with these groovy disco fashion trends from the 70s! | Spy Holly

That 70S Show Actors

Go retro with these groovy disco fashion trends from the 70s! | Spy Holly

By  Dr. Ben Veum MD

That 70s Show Actors - Their Lives Beyond the Basement

"That '70s Show" really became something special, almost out of nowhere, you know? It popped up in the late 1990s and stayed a beloved sitcom into the early 2000s, and it's hard to believe it first hit television screens over twenty-five years back. The people who brought those characters to life, the very actors who made us laugh and feel all the feelings, are a big reason why the show still holds a warm spot in so many hearts.

The show, of course, took us back to the 1970s, a time that was, in some respects, quite a bit different from what came before. That ten-year stretch, from January 1, 1970, to December 31, 1979, was a period of big shifts and, too it's almost, a lot of restlessness. Think about how much was changing, from global politics to social norms, even personal technology, as a matter of fact.

So, while the show gave us a funny look at high school life, it also, in a way, gave us a window into that very unique time. We saw how folks were questioning old ways, from public protests to what people chose to wear. And at the heart of all that, were the folks on screen, the people who brought Eric, Kelso, Jackie, Hyde, Donna, and Fez to life, creating something truly special with their undeniable connection, you know?

Table of Contents

The Folks Who Made It Funny - That 70s Show Actors

The success of "That '70s Show" really comes down to the wonderful connection among the people playing the parts. It was, you know, a group of friends just hanging out, cracking jokes in a smoke circle, and going through the ups and downs of high school life. For eight seasons, these folks kept everyone laughing, and that, in fact, is quite a feat for any television show. The show's cast list, with pictures of the people when they were available, includes everyone who was a really important part of the series.

You can find all the main folks who acted in "That '70s Show" here, so if someone was a big part of the program, they're probably on this list. The energy they shared on screen was just so real, and that's, arguably, what made the show so very special. It felt like you were right there with them, hanging out in the basement, just a little bit of a fly on the wall, if you will. Their performances made those characters feel like people you might actually know, or wish you knew, in some respects.

Who Were the Main That 70s Show Actors?

The core group of friends, Eric, Kelso, Jackie, Hyde, Donna, and Fez, were brought to life by a truly memorable group of performers. Each person brought something very unique to their part, creating a mix that just clicked. Topher Grace, for instance, played the slightly nerdy Eric Forman, who was often at the center of the group's adventures. Laura Prepon played Donna, Eric's neighbor and girlfriend, who was, you know, pretty strong-willed and independent.

Then there was Ashton Kutcher as Kelso, the charming but not always bright friend, and Mila Kunis as Jackie, who was, well, pretty much obsessed with herself and fashion. Danny Masterson played Hyde, the sarcastic and rebellious one, and Wilmer Valderrama was Fez, the foreign exchange student with a rather mysterious past. Lisa Robin Kelly also played Laurie Forman, Eric's older sister, for a time. And of course, the grown-ups, Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman, and Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman, added their own special flavor to the mix. Don Stark played Bob Pinciotti, Donna's dad, too it's almost, rounding out the main group of folks.

Here's a quick look at some of the key people who were part of the show:

Actor's NameCharacter PlayedNotes
Topher GraceEric FormanThe main character, slightly nerdy.
Ashton KutcherMichael KelsoThe good-looking but not-so-smart friend.
Mila KunisJackie BurkhartThe self-absorbed, fashion-conscious friend.
Laura PreponDonna PinciottiEric's neighbor and girlfriend, pretty independent.
Danny MastersonSteven HydeThe sarcastic, rebellious friend. Born March 13, 1976.
Wilmer ValderramaFezThe foreign exchange student. Born January 30, 1980.
Lisa Robin KellyLaurie FormanEric's older sister, left the show midway through season three.
Debra Jo RuppKitty FormanEric's mom, very caring.
Kurtwood SmithRed FormanEric's dad, known for his stern ways.
Don StarkBob PinciottiDonna's dad, a neighbor.

What Did the That 70s Show Actors Do Next?

After spending so much time together in that basement, the folks who played the parts on "That '70s Show" went on to do all sorts of other things. It's always interesting to see where people go after a big television show wraps up, isn't it? For some, it meant trying their hand at movies, while others kept working in television. The show gave them a really strong start, you know, a solid place to jump off from into other kinds of creative work. It's pretty cool to think about all the different paths they took.

Topher Grace, for example, who played Eric, decided to try his luck with movies. He became a person who worked pretty steadily in big studio projects, which is, honestly, a tough thing to do in that line of work. His move from television to the big screen was a pretty clear choice for him, and he found a lot of success there. It seems like he had a somewhat different plan for himself than some of the other folks involved with the show, which is, in some respects, just how things go for people in that field.

Life After Forman's Basement - That 70s Show Actors' Paths

Many of the other "That '70s Show" actors also kept busy after the show finished its run. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who played Kelso and Jackie, went on to have very prominent careers, both in films and other television programs. They, in fact, ended up getting married in real life, which is a pretty neat twist for fans of the show, given their characters' on-again, off-again relationship. Laura Prepon, who played Donna, also continued to act, finding success in other popular television series. So, you can see, a lot of them stayed in the public eye, keeping their creative work going.

Lisa Robin Kelly, who played Laurie, had a somewhat different path. She abruptly left the show midway through its third season. Her character was written out of the program, with the story being that Laurie went off to attend, you know, other things. This kind of thing happens sometimes in television, where people move on for various reasons. Danny Masterson, who played Hyde, had also been in movies before "That '70s Show," like "Beethoven's 2nd" and "Face/Off." His career, like others, saw different turns after the show's run, as a matter of fact.

How Did the That 70s Show Actors Change Things?

The people who acted in "That '70s Show" truly made a mark, not just on the audience, but also, in a way, on the landscape of television comedy. Their undeniable connection, the way they played off each other, created a kind of magic that's pretty hard to replicate. It was, you know, more than just lines in a script; it was the way they delivered them, the looks they exchanged, the feeling they brought to every scene. That's, arguably, what makes a show stick with people for so long.

The program came out of nowhere to become one of the best sitcoms of its time, and a lot of that credit goes to the people who were on screen every week. They showed that a show about a group of friends just hanging out could be both really funny and, at times, pretty thoughtful. They helped to define a certain kind of humor for a whole generation of viewers, and that, in fact, is a pretty big deal in the world of entertainment. Their work helped shape what people expected from a good, fun television comedy, you see.

The Show's Lasting Mark and Its That 70s Show Actors

The way the "That '70s Show" actors worked together left a pretty lasting impression. From the moments of pure laughter in the smoke circle to the everyday problems of growing up, they made the stories feel real and, well, quite relatable. The show ran for eight seasons, and through all that time, the people playing the parts kept audiences coming back for more. That kind of consistency, that connection with the viewers, is a pretty strong sign of how good they were at what they did, you know?

Even years later, the show's influence can be seen. For example, in the time between the end of "That '70s Show" and the start of "That '90s Show," Eric and Donna, played by Topher Grace and Laura Prepon, got married, moved to Chicago, and even had a daughter named Leia, after the "Star Wars" character. This continuation shows how much the characters, and by extension, the actors who played them, meant to people. It's a testament to the enduring appeal of the stories they told and the way they told them, you know?

Remembering the 70s - A Look Back with That 70s Show Actors

The 1970s, as a matter of fact, were a time of big changes and, you know, some pretty serious events. The show, while funny, gave us a glimpse into that period. It was a decade that saw things like the end of The Beatles and the very beginnings of personal computing. You could hear folks like Carl Douglas, David Essex, and Billy Paul really shining on the music charts. The 1970s, in fact, saw a lot of big happenings and, well, some rough patches too. Things like Saigon falling, the Soviet Union moving into Afghanistan, the Munich tragedy, and a U.S. president stepping down were all part of that period, you see.

The decade was the last time, arguably, when someone could wake up and not know who Darth Vader was, and then by dinner, their head would be spinning with the idea. It was a time of true transformation, a sort of mixing pot where global politics, social ways of doing things, and new technology all bumped into each other and changed. The "That '70s Show" actors, in a way, helped bring this unique time to life for a new generation, letting us experience a bit of what it was like through the eyes of their characters. They were, you know, our guides to that period.

The Era That Shaped the That 70s Show Actors' Story

Almost every part of American society in the 1970s felt a sense of restlessness and a questioning of old ways of doing things. From public protest groups to what people chose to wear, folks were looking for something different. This feeling of change, of questioning, was, in some respects, woven into the very fabric of the show. The characters, and by extension, the "That '70s Show" actors, lived in this changing world, and their stories reflected it, even in funny ways. It was, you know, a pretty interesting backdrop for a sitcom.

The show itself is, in fact, part of a whole "70s nostalgia" page, which is devoted to the music, movies, television, world events, and fads of that time. This shows just how much that decade, and the show set within it, means to people. The "That '70s Show" actors helped make that connection possible, bringing the spirit of the '70s to life in a way that felt real and, well, pretty much timeless. They helped us remember, or discover, what that period was like, through their performances and the chemistry they shared, you know?

Go retro with these groovy disco fashion trends from the 70s! | Spy Holly
Go retro with these groovy disco fashion trends from the 70s! | Spy Holly

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