Does this look like the face of one of the most powerful and influential men in show business?

No? I wouldn't have thought so either. But it is. Ashton Kutcher came to the media forefront when he co-starred in the hit sitcom That 70's Showand portrayed Michael Kelso from 1998 to 2006. His fearless physical comedy and willingness to appear on camera in little more than his tighty-whiteys made him an instant star and teen idol. Fans of the show - which regularly, and bravely, featured a "smoking circle" - typically tuned in to see Kutcher and/or the stunningly beautiful Laura Prepon as neighbor Donna Pinciotti, and the sitcom is credited for giving the phrase "dummass" a new popularity.

Born Michael Ashton Kutcher in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1978, he is a former fashion model, and in the past ten years this super over-achiever has built a very impressive resume.

Ashton admits that, although he played football and appeared on stage in high school, his teen years were stressful: "I didn't want to come home to find more bad news about my brother." The brother was Ashton's fraternal twin Michael, who had a heart transplant when they were young. He says he contemplated suicide and even attempted to jump from a hospital balcony, but was saved at the last minute by his father. He had a brief run-in with the law when he and a cousin broke into his high school to steal money. Caught while leaving the scene, he was sentenced to probation and 180 hours of community service. Kutcher says the experience "straightened me out." During his years at the University of Iowa, he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity and was kicked out of his apartment for being too loud and wild. Of his college years Ashton says, "I thought I knew everything but I didn't have a clue. I was smoking a lot of weed and partying, and I woke up many mornings not knowing what I had done the night before. I played way to hard. I am amazed I am not dead."

I can relate....

While still appearing on That 70's Show, Ashton played host and executive producer for 69 episodes of a show called Punk'd. It was an updated, hipper version of Allen Funt's late 40's hit Candid Camera and an instant hit with the MTV crowd. But unlike Funt, Kutcher's pranks targeted fellow celebrities. The show became such a cultural hit that it was a notch of "coolness" under a celeb's belt to say they'd been Punk'd.

Punk'd ran til 2007.

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While "That 70's Show" and "Punk'd" were raking in the bucks and accolades, Kutcher was busy appearing in projects like:

• Coming Soon
• Down to You
• Reindeer Games
• Dude, Where's My Car? (with friend and co-star Seann William Scott)
• Texas Rangers
• Just Married
• Grounded for Life
• My Boss's Daughter
• Cheaper by the Dozen
• The Butterfly Affect
• Guess Who
• A Lot Like Love
• Bobby

...To name a few. AND, he was executive producer of projects like:

• My Boss's Daughter
• The Butterfly Affect
• You've Got a Friend
• Beauty & the Geek
• Adventures in Hollywood
• Room 401
• Pop Fiction

Then, in 2003, Kutcher scored the ultimate "studly-dude" coup when he was seen dating the cougar of all cougars; actress Demi Moore. Moore was formerly married to action star Bruce Willis and is 15 years his senior. The entertainment world assumed the relationship was just a fling, but the two fell in love and were married in 2005. Willis was one of the guests at the private ceremony held at the Kaballah Centre, a faith in which both Kutcher and Moore are followers. They are still happy and very much in love and Ashton has been quoted as saying, "It is not humanly possible for me to love any human beings more than Demi and her kids."

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Kutchers current and up-coming projects as an actor are; "Personal Effects;" "Spread;" and "Like Father," and he is/will be producing "Opportunity Knocks;" "Five Killers;" "Spread;" and the upcoming "Game Show in my Head," which is hosted by former "Fear Factor" host Joe Rogan. In the video game world, Ashton supplied the voice of Cody in "Surf's Up Game Quiz," and Elliot in "Open Season Game." He appears in, and is the current spokesman for Nikon commercials, and is the creative director of the Voice over Internet Protocol company, Ooma. AND... among his numerous magazine covers, he landed the coveted spots on both GQ and Rolling Stone magazines.

From 2004 to 2007 Ashton was nominated for four Kid's Choice Awards and took one home. In 2000 he was nominated for a Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award, and in 2001 was nominated for an MTV Movie Award.

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With his model looks, mega achievements at just 30 years old, positive outlook on life and super-hottie wife, Ashton Kutcher would certainly seem to be on top of the world. If his track record in just ten years is any indicator, I'm betting he's destined to become one the entertainment business's most powerful players.

"Boo-ya!"

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