Personal details
- Birth Date: 1978-07-12
- Height: 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- Birth Location: New York City, New York, USA
- Children: (2 children) Mabel Jane Grace
- Parents: Pat Grace
- Professions: Actor, Producer, Writer
Topher Grace, born Christopher John Grace in New York City, got his start far from the Hollywood lights. His mom, Pat, worked as a schoolmaster's assistant, and his dad, John, was an executive, so acting wasn’t really in the family playbook. Growing up in Darien, Connecticut, he did the usual kid stuff, but things took a turn when he landed at boarding school up in New Hampshire. That’s where he caught the acting bug, jumping into school productions like "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "The Pirates of Penzance." Oh, and he took a shot at directing too—made a wild choose-your-own-adventure movie with his classmates. Here’s a bit of teenage rebellion: he hated being called Chris, so he started going by Topher. Not exactly a common nickname, but hey, it stuck. After Brewster Academy, he headed to the University of Southern California. But, honestly, college lost its sparkle when Hollywood came knocking. At just 20, he bailed on USC because he landed the role of Eric Forman in That '70s Show. Wild thing is, he wasn’t a seasoned actor at all—the show’s creators, Bonnie and Terry Turner, just happened to see him in a high school play (their daughter was in the crowd), and that’s all it took. No fancy auditions or years of training. Outside of those school plays, he’d never acted before scoring that gig. Talk about a lucky break.
Back in the day, getting called “Chris” just didn’t sit right with him—honestly, can you blame him? So, instead of sticking with the usual nickname for Christopher, he decided to flip the script and go by Topher. Way cooler, right? He chopped off the “Chris” and kept the tail end, which—let’s be real—sounds way more original, especially if you’re hoping to stand out in the world of showbiz. It’s not every day you meet a Topher, but there are a million Chrises running around Hollywood. In an industry crowded with folks trying to make a name for themselves, having something a little different definitely helps people remember you. Plus, there’s a certain vibe to “Topher” that just feels a bit more laid-back and unconventional. So, yeah, the name change wasn’t just a random thing—it was a smart move for someone wanting to carve out his own space in entertainment.
Honestly, Traffic (2000) is a wild ride through the tangled mess of the drug trade in America, showing all the messy, gritty sides that Hollywood usually likes to pretty up. You’ve got a high-powered judge who suddenly realizes his own kid is caught up in the very crisis he’s supposed to be fighting, plus a Mexican cop just trying to stay alive and keep his soul intact while corruption is everywhere. There’s also Catherine Zeta-Jones dealing with the fallout of her husband’s arrest and getting sucked into the crime world herself. Soderbergh juggles all these stories, hopping between borders and languages, and somehow manages to tie them together without making it feel forced. The whole thing feels kind of raw, almost like a documentary at times, and it definitely isn’t shy about showing how complicated and straight-up heartbreaking this war on drugs gets. The cast is stacked, the tension never lets up, and honestly, it’s just one of those movies that sticks with you.
July 12, 1978
5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
New York City, New York, USA
Yes, Mabel Jane Grace
Pat Grace and Surekha
46 years old