Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978, Ashton Kutcher is a genuine rags-to-riches Hollywood success story. The goofy actor was raised on a farm in rural Homestead, Iowa, and attended Clear Creek-Amana High School, where he participated in soccer, wrestling, and drama. Kutcher cleaned floors at a General Mills plant during high school, and once was so broke that he sold his own blood. Though he was more interested in acting and modeling, Kutcher attended University of Iowa, studying biochemical engineering. He left quickly, however, and found some success as a model after winning a state-wide competition. Then, in a lucky turn of fate Kutcher was discovered in a bar in Iowa City and cast in the pilot for 'That '70s Show', which led to stardom for him and co-star Topher Grace.
Kutcher has since starred in several moderately successful features, most notably in 2000's slacker classic 'Dude, Where's My Car?'. In addition to the comedies 'Just Married' (with ex-girlfriend Brittany Murphy) and 2003's 'Cheaper by the Dozen' remake, Kutcher branched out to a more dramatic role with 'The Butterfly Effect'. The actor's MTV show 'Punk'd', in which Kutcher and his cohorts perform hidden camera pranks on unsuspecting celebrities, has been surprisingly successful and often hilarious. His antics on the show have seen a few of its victims threaten to sue for harassment.
Kutcher began dating Demi Moore in 2003, sparking somewhat unfair media attention due to their age difference. Considering the droves of male actors that frequently date women they could have fathered, the tabloid obsession with their cross-generational coupling is grating at best. Regardless, the handsome pair tied the knot in a private ceremony presided over by a Kabbalah rabbi on September 24, 2005. In 2006 Kutcher will star with Kevin Costner in the Coast Guard drama 'The Guardian', in addition to a small role alongside Moore in the ensemble drama 'Bobby'.