Topher Grace
Topher Grace | |
|---|---|
 Grace at the Tribeca premiere of The Giant Mechanical Man in 2012 | |
| Born | Christopher John Grace July 12, 1978 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Christopher John "Topher" Grace (/ˈtoʊfər/; born July 12, 1978)[1] is an American actor. He is known for playing Eric Forman in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, Eddie Brock/Venom in Sam Raimi's film Spider-Man 3, Carter Duryea in the film In Good Company, and Edwin in the 2010 film Predators.
Early life
Grace was born in New York City,[2][3] the son of Pat, an assistant to the schoolmaster of the New Canaan Country School, and John Grace, a Madison Avenue executive.[4][5] He has a sister, Jenny.[6]
Grace grew up in Darien, Connecticut, where actress Kate Bosworth was a middle-school friend; and actress Chloë Sevigny—who later appeared with him in high school stage plays—was sometimes his babysitter.[6]
Career
Grace was cast as Eric Forman on Fox's That '70s Show, which debuted in 1998. He played the role until season 7. His character was written out and replaced with a new character named Randy Pearson (Josh Meyers). Grace made a brief guest appearance in the final episode.[7][8]
Grace played a prep school student who uses marijuana and introduces his girlfriend to freebasing in director Steven Soderbergh's 2000 film Traffic, as well as having uncredited cameos as himself in Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven and its 2004 sequel, Ocean's Twelve. "The joke is that you're supposed to play the worst version of yourself and I don't think too many people are comfortable with that. I never thought for a second that people were really going to think that's what I was like. I think that people will know that I was faking it in those movies," he told Flaunt magazine in 2007.[citation needed]
He planned to cameo in Ocean's Thirteen. However, due to his role in Spider-Man 3, he had to abandon these plans. As Grace said, "I was doing reshoots on Spider-Man 3. I was bummed. I actually talked to Steven Soderbergh about that and we had a thing and then I couldn’t do it."[9] He appeared in director Mike Newell's 2003 film Mona Lisa Smile.[10]
In 2004, Grace played the leading roles in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and In Good Company. That same year, he starred in P.S., which received only a limited theatrical release. Grace won the National Board of Review's 2004 award for Breakthrough Performance Actor for his work in In Good Company and P.S.[5]
On January 15, 2005, Grace hosted Saturday Night Live.[5][11]
In 2007, Grace portrayed Eddie Brock/Venom in Spider-Man 3, directed by Sam Raimi. Grace himself was a fan of the comics and read the Venom stories as a kid.[12] In 2009, Grace became the subject of a recurring column on the entertainment/pop culture site Videogum, entitled "What's Up With Topher Grace?".[13]
In 2010, Grace appeared in the ensemble comedy Valentine's Day and played the character of Edwin in Predators, the newest installment of the science fiction franchise.[14]
In 2011, Grace appeared in the 1980s retro comedy Take Me Home Tonight.[15] He co-wrote the script and co-produced the film. Grace also starred opposite Richard Gere in the spy thriller The Double.[16]
In 2012, Grace starred alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Matthew Gray Gubler in the social film The Beauty Inside, which won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding New Approach to an Original Daytime Program or Series in 2013. The film was directed by Drake Doremus and written by Richard Greenberg.[17]
In 2014, Grace starred in the indie thriller The Calling, alongside Susan Sarandon,[18] and appeared in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi adventure Interstellar, in a supporting role.[19]
In October 2013, Grace joined HBO comedy pilot People In New Jersey with Sarah Silverman, but in January 2014, the pilot was passed on.[20][21]
Grace co-starred in the comedy film American Ultra (2015), alongside Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, playing a CIA agent.[22] That same year, he co-starred in Truth, with Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett, and based on the story of CBS's 60 Minutes report that George W. Bush had received preferential treatment to keep him out of the Vietnam War. Grace played Mike Smith, a researcher on the story.[23]
In January 2014, Grace joined the upcoming supernatural-thriller Delirium, which centers on a man recently released from a mental institute who inherits a mansion after his parents die. After a series of disturbing events, he comes to believe it is haunted.[24]
Personal life
Grace started dating actress Ashley Hinshaw in January 2014, and the two were engaged in January 2015.[25] On May 29, 2016, Grace and Hinshaw married near Santa Barbara, California.[26] On August 1, 2017, Hinshaw confirmed that she and Grace are expecting their first child.[27] Their daughter, Mabel Jane Grace, was born in November 2017.[28]
Other
Grace is a supporter of FINCA International, a microfinance organization.[29]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2006 | That '70s Show | Eric Forman | Main role (seasons 1–7); Special guest (season 8); 179 episodes Nominated – Teen Choice Award for TV Breakout Performance (1999) Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor (2000–2001) Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor Comedy (2002–2004) Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young Actor (1999) Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series Young Ensemble (1999) |
| 2002 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Guard 1 (voice) | Episode: "Space Ape at the Cape" |
| 2003 | King of the Hill | Chris (voice) | Episode: "Megalo Dale" |
| 2005 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Topher Grace/The Killers" |
| 2005 | Stella | Older Kevin | Episode: "Paper Route" |
| 2005 | Robot Chicken | Eric Forman (voice) | Episode: "Gold Dust Gasoline" |
| 2008 | The Simpsons | Donny (voice) | Episode: "The Debarted" |
| 2011 | Too Big to Fail | Jim Wilkinson | Television film |
| 2012 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Cameraman | Episode: "Seth Rogen Wears a Plaid Shirt & Brown Pants" |
| 2012 | The Beauty Inside | Alex | 6 episodes; Daytime Emmy New Approaches Original Daytime Program or Series |
| 2013 | People in New Jersey | Carl Levin | Unsold pilot |
| 2015 | The Muppets | Himself | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2015 | Drunk History | Milton Bradley | Episode: "Games" |
| 2016 | TripTank | Leonard (voice) | Episode: "Sick Day" |
| 2017 | Workaholics | Noel | Episode: "Weed the People" |
| 2017 | Get Shorty | Tyler Mathis | 2 episodes |
| Year | Song | Role | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | In The Street | Eric Forman | Cheap Trick |
| 2011 | Don't You Want Me Baby | Himself | Atomic Tom |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Eddie Brock/Venom (voice) |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Lonely, I'm Not[30] | Porter | Second Stage Theatre |
References
- ^ "Topher Grace". New Hampshire Union Leader. February 22, 2013.
- ^ Brunner, Borgna (2005). Time Almanac 2006: With Information Please. Time Inc. p. 295. ISBN 1-932994-41-6.
- ^ "Topher Grace Profile". E!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "About". Yahoo!. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ a b c Hill, Logan (May 24, 2005). "Deadpan Alley". New York. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Keck, William (December 21, 2004). "The personification of Grace". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace to Return to That '70s Show?". Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ "10 Sitcoms that Lost Their Lead Actors and Kept Going". Splitsider. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Topel, Fred (April 22, 2007). "No Topher Grace Cameo in "Oceans 13". Rotten Tomatoes; accessed September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Topher Grace". TV Guide. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ "Topher Grace profile". The SNL Archives. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ Rebecca Murray. "Topher Grace Talks About Venom and Spiderman 3". About.com Entertainment. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ "What's Up With Topher Grace?", Videogum; retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ "The Mystery of What the Hell Topher Grace Is Doing in Predators Deepens". Topless Robot. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Faris, Fogler "Kids" again in comedy film Archived 2007-02-23 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters, February 8, 2007.
- ^ Browne, Niall (2011). "Richard Gere & Topher Grace See 'Double'", Screen Rant; accessed September 26, 2017.
- ^ "A shape-shifting lead played by fans shows inner beauty". Creativity Online. July 24, 2012. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
- ^ Venable, Nick. "Susan Sarandon and Topher Grace Join Indie Thriller The Calling". cinemablend.com. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Mike. "Topher Grace In 'Interstellar' — Supporting Role In Chris Nolan Movie". Deadline. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Topher Grace & Sarah Silverman Topline HBO Comedy Pilot 'People In New Jersey'". Deadline. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ Kiefer, Halle. "HBO Passes on People in New Jersey". Vulture. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ "Topher Grace Joins 'American Ultra'". Deadline. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Busch, Anita. "Topher Grace Cast In 'Truth' Movie About Dan Rather-George W Bush Scandal". Deadline. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ "Topher Grace to Star in Supernatural Thriller 'Home' for Blumhouse". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ McRady, Rachel (January 11, 2015). "Topher Grace Engaged to Actress Ashley Hinshaw: See Her Ring!". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Leonard, Elizabeth; Quinn, Dave (May 30, 2016). "That '70s Show Star Topher Grace Ties the Knot with Ashley Hinshaw". People. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Rodriguez, Karla (August 1, 2017). "Ashley Hinshaw Confirms She Is Expecting First Child With Husband Topher Grace". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
{{cite news}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.instyle.com/syndication/topher-grace-ashley-hinshaw-welcome-daughter-mabel-jane
- ^ Topher Grace about FINCA on Jimmy Fallon Archived 2010-12-30 at the Wayback Machine, finca.org, March 20, 2011.
- ^ "'Lonely, I'm Not', With Topher Grace as a Post-Meltdown Corporate Star, Opens in NYC". Yahoo News. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
External links
- Topher Grace at IMDb
- IGN Films interview (December 22, 2004)
- About.com interview (January 2004)
- 1978 births
- Male actors from Connecticut
- American male film actors
- American male voice actors
- American male television actors
- Living people
- Daytime Emmy Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People from Darien, Connecticut
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors