Biography

Topher Grace

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Topher Grace was born Christopher John Grace in New York City, New York, to Pat, a schoolmaster's assistant, and John Grace, an executive. He was raised in Darien, Connecticut. He attended boarding school in New Hampshire for two years, where he began his acting career in such musicals as "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "The Pirates of Penzance." He also tried his first shot at directing with a choose-your-own-adventure-style movie starring his classmates. He hated being called Chris in school, so he changed it to Topher as time went on. He attended New Hampshire's Brewster Academy and the University of Southern California.

Grace dropped out of USC to start his show business career in That '70s Show (1998) at age 20. He was cast in that show because the show's creators, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner, saw him act in a high-school play--their daughter attended same high school. Apart from school plays, Grace had absolutely no acting experience before landing the role of Eric Forman.
- IMDb mini biography by: Everett Logan

Didn't like being called Chris as a kid, so he changed his name to Topher by dropping Chris from Christopher for show business.
Wore a wig on That '70s Show (1998) to make his haircut look more in line with the men's hairstyles of the 1970s. This is why during the first season his hair changes color from brown to light red in some episodes.
To prepare for his role as Venom in Spider-Man 3 (2007), he worked out for six months, gaining 24 pounds of muscle. He based his performance on alcoholics and drug addicts.
Decided not to come back for the last season of That '70s Show (1998) and, instead, bought an apartment in New York to be closer to his family and focus on his film career. [2005].
His acting mentors were Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who played his character's parents on That '70s Show (1998).

"Some of my favorite films include Out of Sight (1998) and Schizopolis (1996). So, the thing that got me most excited about getting the part was the opportunity to work with Steven Soderbergh". (when asked why he chose the part in the film Traffic (2000)).
[Talking about his scene with Michael Douglas in Traffic (2000)]: "I threatened Michael Douglas! Oh, man, that guy could beat me over the head with his Oscar!"
[on quitting That '70s Show (1998)]: "It's heartbreaking because there's no funner job in the universe than being one of those six kids. I was in my teens when I started. It's ridiculous to even try to imagine my life without being able to laugh all day with those five people. I never cry, like ever, but I have a feeling it's coming."
Most of my freshman year at USC I'd just been partying and I had zero direction.
I'm very social. It's just most of my friends are not actors.

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