Ashton Kutcher Biography

Christopher Ashton Kutcher, known widely as Ashton Kutcher, was born on February 7, 1978, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The son of Diane Finnegan, a Procter & Gamble employee, and Larry M. Kutcher, a factory worker, Ashton grew up in a relatively conservative Catholic family. His family includes an older sister, Tausha, and a fraternal twin brother, Michael, who suffered from a heart condition and cerebral palsy. Ashton's childhood was punctuated by challenges, including contemplating suicide to donate his heart to his ailing brother. He later attended Washington High School and developed an interest in acting. An attempted burglary during his senior year resulted in probation and community service, but it also straightened him out, according to Kutcher.

In August 1996, Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa, intending to major in biochemical engineering—a decision inspired by his brother's health issues. His college life was marked by partying, and after being expelled from his apartment for noise, Kutcher realized he needed to redirect his life. He worked odd jobs, sold blood plasma, and entered the "Fresh Faces of Iowa" modeling competition, which he won. This victory offered him a trip to the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) Convention in New York City, sparking his interest in the world of show business.

Kutcher's acting career began with his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show from 1998 to 2006. His film debut came in the romantic comedy Coming Soon (1999), followed by a box office hit comedy Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). Kutcher moved into romantic comedies in 2003 with films like Just Married and My Boss's Daughter, and in the same year, he created and produced the television series Punk'd. His versatile acting career continued with a mix of comedy and drama, such as the psychological film The Butterfly Effect in 2004.

Kutcher's career trajectory included various romantic comedies, sitcoms, and even voice acting. He starred in Guess Who, A Lot Like Love, What Happens in Vegas, and No Strings Attached. From 2011 to 2015, he portrayed Walden Schmidt on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. He also provided the voice of Elliot in Open Season (2006), starred as Colt Bennett in the Netflix series The Ranch (2016–2020), and portrayed Steve Jobs in the biographical film Jobs in 2013. The comedy thriller Vengeance (2022) featured Kutcher in a starring role.

Beyond his acting career, Kutcher ventured into entrepreneurship and became a venture capitalist. Co-founding A-Grade Investments, he later announced Sound Ventures in 2015, a fund backed by institutional funding. Kutcher has made successful investments in more than 60 companies, including high-profile tech startups like Skype, Foursquare, Airbnb, Path, and Fab.com. As of August 2017, he invested in six startups: Neighborly, Zenreach, ResearchGate, Duolingo, Kopari Beauty, and Lemonade, showcasing his business acumen alongside his acting prowess.