Topher Grace
He deftly sidestepped teen idol typecasting, using his sitcom fame as a springboard into a varied career of sharp character studies and unexpected dramatic turns.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American actor·Birthday: July 12·Generation X
Biography
Topher Grace played Eric Forman on 'That '70s Show' while seeking contrasting film roles. He held his own against Michael Douglas in 'Traffic' and played a smarmy editor in 'In Good Company.' After the sitcom, he played Venom in 'Spider-Man 3,' a killer in 'Predators,' and David Duke in Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman' — a performance that earned critical praise. Grace chooses roles over stardom, appearing in indie films and stage productions. He operates as a character actor in a leading man's frame, subverting the nice-guy image his breakout role created.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Topher was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Topher Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Topher's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Eric Forman for all eight seasons of the hit Fox sitcom 'That '70s Show,' which defined a generation of teen comedy.
- Received widespread critical praise for his portrayal of white supremacist David Duke in Spike Lee's Oscar-winning film 'BlacKkKlansman.'
- Executive produced and starred in the Starz comedy series 'The Last Tycoon,' adapting F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished novel.
Did You Know?
He was discovered by a producer while performing in a high school play and was cast in 'That '70s Show' with no prior professional experience.
Grace is an avid film editor and famously created a condensed, 85-minute cut of the 'Star Wars' prequel trilogy as a personal project.
He turned down the role of Peter Parker in Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' before later appearing in the franchise as Venom.
“The great thing about starting on a sitcom is you learn not to be precious. You do it, it's done, you move on.”
