Date of Birth

12 December 1978, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Christopher John Grace

Height

5' 11" (1.8 m)

Mini Biography

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.

Trivia

• 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 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].
• 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 wants to work with the most 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.
• 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 (2004) and P.S. (2004).
• Recommended ex-girlfriend Ginnifer Goodwin for the role of Cathy Feely in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004).
• Heroes are Chris Farley and David Spade.
• Performed the lead role of Pseudolus, the comical narrator, in "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" at his high school. He also appeared in "Fiddler On The Roof," "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "The Pirates Of Penzance".
• Contributed to and supports Barack Obama for the 2008 presidential campaign.
• While in the Venom costume he used in Spider-Man 3 (2007), he didn't drink any water during his breaks because he couldn't use the bathroom with his costume on.
• 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.
• Dislikes the movie Space Jam (1996). He once worked in a video shop that played it constantly.
• Nephew of Susan Grace.
• New York City: Starring in the off-broadway play "Lonely, I'm Not" until June 5th. [May 2012]
• Godfather of Kyle Newman & Jaime King's son James.
• Topher's paternal grandfather, Walter Kenneth Grace, was from Oklahoma. Topher's paternal grandmother, Muriel Cecile Hess, who was from New York City, was from an upper-class German Jewish family. Topher's mother is of Irish heritage.
• Friends with Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Wilmer Valderrama.
• Topher's great-great-great-aunt was Kate Wollman, who donated the funds to build New York's famous Wollman Rink, a public ice rink which opened in 1949. Kate was the sister of Topher's paternal great-great-grandmother Rosa Wollman.
• His acting mentors were Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who played his character's parents on That '70s Show (1998).
• Entertainment Weekly once predicted that he would be the next Tom Hanks.
• Shares the exact birth date and birth year (July 12, 1978) with actress Michelle Rodriguez.
• As of 2019, Grace has appeared in two films nominated for Best Picture, Traffic (2000) and BlacKkKlansman (2018).
• He has made his own fan edits of several popular films. In 2012 he edited the three Star Wars "Prequel Trilogy" films into a single 85 minute film, and in 2019 edited a five minute trailer with every live-action Star Wars film. He also edited the Hobbit films into a single two hour film.
• Second cousin, twice removed, of H&R Block founders, brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch. Jonas Wollman and Betty Kohn, who were Topher's three times paternal great-grandparents, were also the Bloch brothers' maternal great-grandparents.
• Childhood friend of Dave Karger.
• (January 5, 2020) His wife, Ashley Hinshaw, is expecting their second child.
• Father, with Ashley Hinshaw, of daughter Mabel Jane Grace (b. November 1, 2017).

Trademarks:

• Quick wit
  
• Wiry frame
  

Quotes

• "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 freshmen 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.