Topher Grace left That ’70s Show to pursue more film work. He said that making Traffic made him realize he wanted to find a way to keep doing that kind of work. The show’s explanation for Eric Forman’s absence—a teaching job in Africa—was the character’s fictional departure, not Grace’s stated reason for leaving.
Grace said film work changed what he wanted to do
In a December 2004 interview while promoting In Good Company, Grace said the season then underway would be his last, even though he did not know whether the series itself would end. He tied his changing priorities to his experience working on Traffic: “I’m really starting to fall in love with this new job. I’ve got to find a way to replicate this experience.” (blackfilm.com, December 2004)
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That 70s Show: Season 1 & 2 | $12.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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That '70s Show: Season 3 | $19.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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That '70s Show: Season 4 | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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That '70s Show: Season 1 | $11.96 | Buy on Amazon |
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GUSSLM Books Music That '70s Show: The Complete Series | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
A January 2005 Los Angeles Times profile also described Traffic as a turning point. Grace said he had begun to reprioritize, while acknowledging that leaving the show would be difficult. The paper reported that he had fewer than a dozen episodes left to shoot. (Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2005)
These contemporaneous comments point to a career choice: after years on a television series, Grace wanted to pursue other projects, particularly film. They explain what he said publicly about leaving; they do not claim to reveal every private consideration behind the decision.
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When he left—and what happened to the show
In May 2005, Fox News reported that Grace and Ashton Kutcher were leaving after seven seasons to pursue other projects. Grace said the departure would be hard because the cast had grown up together. (Fox News, May 18, 2005)
Grace had signaled his plans before then. In a 2004 TV Guide interview, he described the show as a “home base” and said he and Kutcher would likely leave the following year. (TV Guide, 2004)
Rank #2
- Factory sealed DVD
Eric’s Africa storyline was separate from Grace’s decision
On the show, Eric Forman leaves Point Place to take a teaching job in Africa. Executive producer Dean Batali described the season finale as a goodbye for Eric and said the series expected to continue with its remaining cast. That plot explains where Eric went in the story; it does not establish why Grace chose to leave the series. (TV Guide)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was Grace fired or leaving because of a feud?
The contemporaneous reports cited here describe Grace leaving to pursue other projects and quote him discussing his interest in film. They do not substantiate a firing or cast conflict as the cause. It is more accurate to stick to his stated career motivation than to treat unsupported rumors as fact.
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Rank #4
- DVD
- Multiple Formats, Box set, Color
- English (Original Language), English (Unknown)
- 3
- 750
Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
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