Real Reason Topher Grace Left “That ’70s Show” After Just 7 Seasons, Explained
- Topher Grace chose to leave That '70s Show after 7 seasons to pursue other opportunities.
- The actor also wanted to live close to family which would have made filming a cumbersome task.
- He has since been seen in many movies and shows including That '90s Show
Sitcoms were the launchpad for success back in the 1980s and 1990s for Hollywood actors. If your show became successful, it would often mean that your career will also soon take off. Topher Grace, a star from That ‘70s Show experienced a similar fate. He rose to prominence after his impactful stint in the sitcom but only for 7 seasons.
Though the show went on after that, Grace chose to leave the show after 7 years. Fans were upset over his decision since his character Eric Forman was a crucial piece in completing the trajectory of other characters as well.
Topher Grace Wanted to Pursue Other Opportunities
One of the central reasons that dictated Topher Grace’s decision to depart from That ‘70s Show was his desire to pursue other facets of his career. The actor aspired to see what Hollywood had in store for him other than the sitcom. He achieved great success in his character Eric as fans love him to date.
However, being a part of such a phenomenal sitcom can often mean that all your time and energy goes into filming just one venture. Grace, on the other hand, wanted to diversify his filmography and explore more avenues. This meant the show endured a hole in its plot since characters make sitcoms work as compared to other drama shows that are pulled by the plot.
Another reason Grace cited for his departure from the show was that he wanted to live close to his family near the East Coast. This meant his inability to travel back and forth to film further episodes.
Was Topher Grace’s Eric Replaced in That ‘70s Show?
Even though the showrunners tried to replace Grace’s character, they were unable to do so because what was funny about Eric was his mannerisms and his character as a whole. The showrunners brought in two different characters who they thought could fill Eric’s shoes. However, that did not go as planned since both Charlie and Randy didn’t even come close to enjoying Eric’s popularity.
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Sitcoms like That ‘70s Show have a dedicated and loyal fanbase that understands the nuances brought in by the characters. The same chemistry and eccentricities of one cast member cannot be replicated by any actor once the viewers have fallen in love with them.
Around the same time, Ashton Kutcher, another central character of the show, left and became a recurring guest star instead. The exit of both Grace and Kutcher impacted the show heavily.
Topher Grace’s Other Prominent Roles
Grace’s exit from That ‘70s Show was not for nothing. He built a career for himself in Hollywood movies with roles like Eddie Brock in Spider-Man 3, BlacKkKlansman, and Interstellar. The former has been one of the biggest roles of his career with more projects following thereafter.
The actor also poured a lot of his energy into television roles in blockbuster series like Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone. More recently, fans saw Grace return in the spinoff of the original show, That ‘90s Show. Grace was more than happy to reprise his role in the show and meet with the other cast members once again.
