Christopher Ashton Kutcher (pronounced /ˈkʊtʃər/; born February 7, 1978), best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American film actor, television actor, producer and former fashion model, best-known for playing Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. He created, produced and hosted Punk'd. He played lead roles in such films as Dude, Where's My Car?, Just Married, The Butterfly Effect, The Guardian and What Happens in Vegas.

He is also the producer and co-creator of the supernatural TV show Room 401. and the reality TV show Beauty and the Geek. He is married to actress Demi Moore. As of April 2009[update], Kutcher is the most followed user on the social-networking site Twitter.[

Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Larry Kutcher, worker at a General Mills factory, and Diane Finnegan, a Procter & Gamble worker. He is of part Irish ancestry on his mother's side. Kutcher has an older sister, Tausha, and a fraternal twin, Michael, who had a heart transplant when the brothers were young children.

Kutcher attended Washington High School in Cedar Rapids for his freshman year, before his family moved to Tiffin, Iowa, where he attended Clear Creek-Amana High School. In high school he played on the football team as a wide receiver and appeared in school plays. However with his brother suffering from cardiomyopathy caused his home life become increasingly stressful. He has stated that "I didn't want to come home and find more bad news about my brother" and "kept myself so busy that I didn't allow myself to feel".Kutcher admitted that during adolescence, he contemplated committing suicide. At thirteen, he attempted to jump from a Cedar Rapids hospital balcony, with his father intervening in the incident. Kutcher home life worsened as his parents divorced when he was sixteen. During his senior year, he broke into his high school at midnight with his cousin in an attempt to steal money; he was arrested leaving the scene. Kutcher was convicted of third-degree burglary and sentenced to three years' probation and 180 hours of community service. Kutcher stated that although the experience "straightened him out", he lost his girlfriend and anticipated college scholarships, and he was ostracized at school and in his community.
Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa in August 1996, where he majored in biochemical engineering, motivated by the desire to find a cure for his brother's heart ailment. At college, Kutcher was kicked out of his apartment for being too "noisy" and "wild". Kutcher stated, "I thought I knew everything but I didn't have a clue. I was partying, and I woke up many mornings not knowing what I had done the night before. I played way too hard. I am amazed I am not dead." He was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity. To earn money for his tuition, Kutcher worked as a college summer hire in the cereal department for the General Mills plant in Cedar Rapids, and sometimes donated blood for money. During his time at UI he was approached by a scout at a bar called "The Airliner" in Iowa City and was recruited to enter the "Fresh Faces of Iowa" modeling competition. After placing first, he dropped out of college and won a trip to New York City to the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) Convention. Following his stay in New York City Ashton returned to Cedar Rapids before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.

Career

Filmography

1998–2006 That '70s Show Michael Kelso 180 episodes
1999 Coming Soon Louie 
2000 Down to You Jim Morrison 
Reindeer Games College Kid 
Dude, Where's My Car? Jesse Montgomery III 
2001 Just Shoot Me! Dean Cassidy 1 episode
Texas Rangers George Durham 
2002 Grounded for Life Cousin Scott 1 episode
2003–2007 Punk'd Himself/Host 
2003 Just Married Tom Leezak 
My Boss's Daughter Tom Stansfield 
Cheaper by the Dozen Hank Supporting
2004 The Butterfly Effect Evan Treborn Main Role
2005 Guess Who Simon Green 
A Lot Like Love Oliver Martin 
Robot Chicken various voices 
2006 Bobby Fisher 
The Guardian Jake Fischer 
Open Season Elliot Voice
2008 Miss Guided Beaux 1 episode
What Happens in Vegas... Jack Fuller lead role
2009 Spread Nikki Harper 
Personal Effects Walter Simmons main role
2010 Valentine's Day Reed Bennet 
Five Killers Sam Finnegan