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That '70s Show character guide

Who is Eric Forman in That '70s Show?

The skinny, sarcastic, Star Wars-loving teenager at the center of That '70s Show, whose basement in Point Place, Wisconsin, is the hangout for his friends and his long romance with girl-next-door Donna.

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Show
That '70s Show
Debut
1998
Network
FOX
Role
Lead
Gender
Male

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Show
That '70s Show
Played by
Topher Grace
First episode
“That '70s Pilot”Season 1, Episode 1, aired August 23, 1998
Role
Lead
Network
FOX
Occupation
Teenager, later a teacher in Africa
Show run
1998 to 2006

Eric Forman is a wisecracking, slightly awkward teenager growing up in Point Place, Wisconsin, in the late 1970s. Played by Topher Grace, he is the straight man of his friend group and the heart of That '70s Show for its first seven seasons.

On That '70s Show, Eric Forman's story runs through Donna Pinciotti (Girlfriend), Red Forman (Father), Kitty Forman (Mother), Steven Hyde (Best Friend), Michael Kelso (Friend), and Fez (Friend).

Eric Forman from That '70s Show: Sitcomdle character card

Who is Eric Forman?

Eric lives with his gruff father, Red, his cheerful and anxious mother, Kitty, and for a while his older sister, Laurie. His family's basement is where he and his friends Donna, Hyde, Kelso, Jackie, and Fez spend most of their time, talking in circles and avoiding Red.

In the pilot, his parents hand him the keys to the family's Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, and by the end of the night he has his first kiss with Donna Pinciotti, the girl next door. Later in the first season, he persuades his parents to let his best friend, Hyde, move in with the family.

Personality and comedy

Eric is thin, clumsy, and a little nerdy, and he makes up for it with a deadpan, self-deprecating wit. He is devoted to Star Wars, quick with a sarcastic aside, and constantly on the receiving end of Red's threats and insults.

Topher Grace plays him as the relatable center of a chaotic group. Eric is often the one reacting to everyone else's schemes, but his insecurity, his love for Donna, and his tense, funny relationship with his father give him plenty of comedy of his own.

Key storylines

Eric and Donna's relationship is the show's main thread. After years together, Eric gives Donna a promise ring at the end of season three, but she is not ready for that commitment, and they break up. They spend much of season four apart, then reunite when Eric drives to California to bring her home at the start of season five, and they get engaged later that year.

Their wedding is called off at the end of season six when Eric gets cold feet and skips town, though he comes back and the two agree that neither was ready to marry. In season seven, Eric decides to become a teacher and leaves Point Place to teach in Africa in the season finale. He is away for all of season eight until he returns home in the series finale to see Donna and his family as the decade ends.

Behind the scenes and legacy

Topher Grace starred as Eric for seven seasons and left after season seven to pursue a film career, returning uncredited for the 2006 series finale. His exit left the show without its lead for its final season.

Grace returned as Eric in the Netflix sequel That '90s Show, which premiered in 2023. In it, Eric and Donna are married and living in Chicago, and their daughter, Leia, named for Princess Leia, spends a summer with her grandparents in Point Place.

Key Eric Forman episodes

  1. “That '70s Pilot”Season 1, Episode 1Eric gets the Vista Cruiser and shares his first kiss with Donna on its hood.
  2. “Hyde Moves In”Season 1, Episode 24When Hyde's mother leaves, Eric gets his parents to take his best friend in.
  3. “The Promise Ring”Season 3, Episode 25Eric gives Donna a promise ring, and their relationship falls apart over it.
  4. “Going to California”Season 5, Episode 1Eric drives to California to find Donna, and the two get back together.
  5. “The Seeker”Season 6, Episode 25Eric and Donna's wedding is called off.
  6. “Till the Next Goodbye”Season 7, Episode 25Eric says goodbye to Point Place and leaves to teach in Africa.

Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.

Famous sitcom couple

Eric Forman: frequently asked questions

Who plays Eric Forman on That '70s Show?

Topher Grace plays Eric Forman. He was a main cast member for the first seven seasons, from 1998 to 2005.

Why did Eric leave That '70s Show?

Topher Grace chose to leave after season seven to move on with his career. In the story, Eric leaves Point Place to teach in Africa in the season seven finale.

Is Eric in the final season of That '70s Show?

Eric is absent for most of season eight but returns in the series finale, "That '70s Finale," in an uncredited appearance by Topher Grace.

Do Eric and Donna end up together?

Yes. They reunite in the series finale, and the sequel That '90s Show reveals that they are married with a daughter, Leia.

Is Eric in That '90s Show?

Yes. Topher Grace returns as Eric in That '90s Show on Netflix, where Eric is a married father living in Chicago.

Test yourself: Eric Forman quiz

5 questions about Eric Forman. Think of your answer, then open the reveal to check it.

  1. Question 1

    In which fictional Wisconsin town is That '70s Show set?

    1. Kenosha Falls
    2. Point Place
    3. Lake Geneva
    4. Pine Ridge
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Point Place

    Point Place is a made-up suburb near Green Bay, which explains all the Packers gear around the Forman house.

    See question 1 in the full quiz

  2. Question 2

    What car does Red hand down to Eric in the pilot?

    1. A Ford Pinto
    2. A Chevy Nova
    3. An AMC Gremlin
    4. An Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. An Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser

    Red buys himself a more economical Toyota Corolla and passes the 1969 Vista Cruiser to Eric, and the station wagon becomes the gang's ride for years.

    See question 2 in the full quiz

  3. Question 3

    What insult does Red Forman most often hurl at Eric?

    1. "Dumbass"
    2. "Nimrod"
    3. "Knucklehead"
    4. "Sissy"
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. "Dumbass"

    Red is a Navy veteran of World War II and Korea with zero patience for teenage nonsense, though his soft side shows up now and then.

    See question 3 in the full quiz

  4. Question 4

    Why does Hyde move in with the Formans in season one?

    1. His house burns down
    2. His father is sent to prison
    3. He loses a bet to Eric
    4. His mother runs off and leaves him alone
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. His mother runs off and leaves him alone

    In "Hyde Moves In," Hyde's mom, Edna, takes off with a trucker, and Eric talks Red and Kitty into taking his best friend in.

    See question 7 in the full quiz

  5. Question 5

    Which store does Red go to work for after losing his job at the plant?

    1. Fatso Burger
    2. Price Mart
    3. Grooves
    4. The Photo Hut
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Price Mart

    In "Red's New Job," Red hopes to land a management spot at the new store, and it stings when Eric beats him there with a stock boy job.

    See question 8 in the full quiz

Take the full That '70s Show quiz (20 questions)

Sources and corrections

Reference pages used for this guide, including character, cast, and episode details.

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