ASHTON KUTCHER

Biography

Christopher Ashton Kutcher was born on February 7, 1978, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, five minutes before his fraternal twin brother, Michael. At age 13, parents Larry Kutcher and Diane Portwood divorced, shortly before his brother was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a deadly disease that eats away at the heart's muscles. Michael was given about six hours to live, but survived with a transplant.

ashton kutcher does annie

This compelled young Ashton to enroll in the biochemical engineering program at the University of Iowa in 1996, where he would pursue a cure for the disease. But in previous years, he showed interest (and promise) in a whole other profession: he starred in a seventh grade play, and in his senior year was given the lead role in a production of Annie.

To help pay for his college education, Kutcher worked part-time at several odd jobs, like sweeping the floors at a General Mills factory (where his father worked) and skinning deer. But everything changed one night, when at a local bar, a model scout approached him and suggested he sign up for the Fresh Faces of Iowa modeling competition. Taken back, Kutcher accepted. The first prize, which Kutcher grabbed, was a trip to New York, where other competitions would take place.

Once Kutcher arrived in New York, he decided to stay. He signed up with the Next Agency modeling agency, which removed "Christopher" from his name, as they already had too many male models with that first name.

ashton kutcher stars as kelso

In no time he was doing the grand circuit -- Paris and Milan -- and strutting for big names like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Versace. But Kutcher always had his eyes aimed at another city: L.A.

In 1998, he auditioned for two upcoming TV shows: Wind on Water and That '70s Show. Amazed that he was offered major roles in both, Ashton struggled to choose one. He finally went with Kelso, a decision he certainly celebrated when Wind on Water was canceled shortly after its premiere. That '70s Show, on the other hand, became a Nielsen hit.

ashton kutcher in dude where's my car?

While he was becoming a star to look out for on TV, Kutcher started small on the big screen, with minor roles in Reindeer Games and Down to You, both in 2000. But that same year he scored big as Jesse Richmond, the protagonist in the ridiculous comedy Dude, Where's My Car?, earning him an MTV Breakthrough Male Performance nomination.

Holding strong on TV, he also had a major role alongside fellow "heartthrob" James Van Der Beek in Texas Rangers (2001), and co-starred with Brittany Murphy in Just Married (2003). A self-described workaholic, he starred in and co-produced My Boss's Daughter, with Tara Reid as his love interest.

After a bit part in 2003's holiday comedy remake, Cheaper by the Dozen, Ashton co-starred with Amy Smart in the hit 2004 thriller, The Butterfly Effect, for which he also served as executive producer.

ashton enjoys fame with punk'd

In 2003, Ashton also served as creator, host and producer of the successful MTV show Punk'd, in which Kutcher and his posse play pranks on celebrities. The show won him two 2003 Teen Choice Awards for Best Reality/Variety Host and Choice Reality Hunk (he also won the Choice TV Actor award, for That '70s Show).

ashton kutcher and demi moore

Ashton Kutcher's biggest recent hit, though, has been in the tabloid headlines, when he began dating Hollywood sex symbol Demi Moore. Rumor has it that the two will wed, but whether or not that is true, the fact remains that they are a "serious" couple.

Ashton previously dated model/actress January Jones and his Just Married co-star Brittany Murphy. He lives in the Hollywood Hills with his pets, where he's a hobby carpenter.

Kutcher has two films lined up for 2005 -- A Lot Like Love and The Dinner Party (which he is also producing) -- and is lending his voice to the animated film, Open Season, set for a 2006 release. He will also return to his modeling roots, as the face of Zoo York clothing.