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Topher Grace Profile |
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Birth Date: July 12, 1978
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Birth Place: New York, New York, USA
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Birth Name: Christopher John Grace
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Height: 5'11"
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Biography |
Christopher John Grace (born July 12, 1978), better known as
Topher Grace, is an American actor best known for playing
the lead role of Eric Forman on That '70s Show during the
show's first seven seasons and for appearing as Eddie
Brock/Venom in Spider-Man 3 (2007).
Grace was born in New York City, New York to Patricia, an
office worker and assistant to the schoolmaster of the New
Canaan Country School in New Canaan, Connecticut, and John
Grace, a business executive. He has a sister, Jenny. Grace
grew up in Darien, Connecticut, where he knew actress Kate
Bosworth and was sometimes babysat by actress Chloe Sevigny,
who also later appeared with him in high school stage plays.
He chose to go by the name Topher in high school after
becoming frustrated with his full name being abbreviated as
Chris; he dropped the Chris and kept the Topher.
Grace attended the Fay School in Southborough,
Massachusetts, The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and
Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire--where he was
noticed by the producer of That '70s Show (whose daughter
also attended the school) while playing the leading role of
Pseudolus in a local stage production of A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Grace was cast as Eric Forman on Fox's That '70s Show, which
debuted in 1998. The sitcom was successful and Grace became
well known among television watchers; he played the role
until 2005, after which he left the series to pursue feature
film work. The series was renewed for another season despite
his absence before its ending in 2006. Grace would make a
guest appearance in the last episode.
Grace briefly attended college at the University of Southern
California, but left during his freshman year to concentrate
on his television work and to pursue a career in film. He
played a prep school student who uses cocaine and introduces
his girlfriend to heroin in director Steven Soderbergh's
Traffic (2000), as well as having uncredited cameos in
Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve
(2004), he was planned to cameo in Ocean's Thirteen but due
to his filming Spider-Man 3 he had to drop out. He also
appeared in director Mike Newell's Mona Lisa Smile (2003).
In 2004, Grace had the starring role in two major feature
films; he played the leading roles in the Robert
Luketic-directed Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and the Paul
Weitz dramedy, In Good Company, in which he played an
ambitious but troubled corporate executive. That same year,
Grace also starred in the film P.S., which received only a
limited theatrical release. Grace's work in P.S. and In Good
Company was recognized by the National Board of Review of
Motion Pictures in the category of "Breakthrough Performance
by an Actor". In 2005, Grace hosted Saturday Night Live.
Grace portrays Edward "Eddie" Brock Junior in Spider-Man 3,
directed by Sam Raimi. Grace also appears in the 1980s retro
comedy Kids in America. Grace co-wrote the script and will
be co-producing the film. In addition, he will soon star in
The Crusaders, a drama about the 1954 Brown v. Board of
Education decision, playing real-life civil rights lawyer
Jack Greenberg, opposite Terrence Howard, who will play
Thurgood Marshall.
Topher Grace is currently dating Ivanka Trump. He has also
dated Anne Hathaway and Ginnifer Goodwin. |
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Other Information |
He and his fellow cast mates from "That '70s Show" (1998),
Laura Prepon (Donna) and Danny Masterson (Hyde), have all
made guest appearances on "King of the Hill" (1997), but not
in the same episode.
Didn't like being called Chris as a kid so he changed his
name to Topher, by dropping "chris" from Christopher, for
show business.
Decided not to come back for another season of "That '70s
Show" (1998), and, instead, has bought an apartment in New
York to be closer to his family and focus on his film
career. [2005]
Attended summer camp with Chloë Sevigny, they appeared in
several stage plays together. Though only a few years older,
Chloë used to babysit him and his younger sister.
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.
Often seen wearing a watch on his right wrist, but appears
to be ambidextrous.
Attended USC
His favorite performances are James Stewart in 'It's a
Wonderful Life' (1946) and 'Bill Murray' in 'Groundhog Day'
(1993) .
The directors he most wants to work with are P.J. Hogan,
Peter Sollett, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Sofia
Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and Guillermo del
Toro.
Corey Howard (Glenn Howerton), the central character of the
failed That 80s Show (2002), was the cousin of Topher's
character Eric Forman from That 70s Show (1998).
Mother, Pat, works as a receptionist at the New Canaan
Country School in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Has an extensive collection of baseball caps.
Enjoys playing tennis and even considered doing it
professionally. He also enjoys soccer.
Attended the Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire;
boarding school University of Southern California for one
year.
Won the 2005 New Power Award for "In Good Company" and
"P.S."
Recommended ex-girlfriend Ginnifer Goodwin for the role of
Cathy Feely in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004). |
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