Since his big break on That '70s Show in 1998, Ashton Kutcher has become a household name. Though he went on to star in a plethora of various films and television shows, Kutcher is still remembered fondly for his role as the less-than-intelligent "himbo," Michael Kelso. Kutcher portrayed Kelso for the majority of That '70s Show, but left after Season 7, only appearing here and there in Season 8.
Michael Kelso is the stereotypical lunkhead -- attractive but immature, just coasting through life. While Kelso is often seen as lazy and unmotivated, he actually does display maturity and responsibility at times, surprising his friends and the audience as well. But what's most surprising is his sporadic appearances in Season 8, especially since he was a fan favorite on the show. So why did Ashton Kutcher leave That '70s Show, considering it jumpstarted his career?
Who Was Michael Kelso on That '70s Show?
Throughout the entirety of That '70s Show, Kelso is in a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship with Mila Kunis's Jackie Burkhart, a dynamic that is central to the series. In Season 2, Kelso cheats on Jackie, causing them to break up, but they get back together in Season 3. As That '70s Show continued, the two nearly get married, but Kelso bails. He tries to win Jackie back multiple times, but she gets involved with another mainstay character, Hyde.
Kelso eventually moves on, wishing Jackie the best. However, Kelso does come back around in the final season to propose to Jackie, to which she says no. Season 6 brings about a life-changing event for Kelso when he discovers he's the father of Brooke Rockwell's baby. This plotline led to his eventual departure from the show in Season 7, as he took on the responsibility for caring for the child, moving to Chicago to support his daughter.
Why Kelso Was Notably Absent in Season 8 of That '70s Show
While Kutcher's popularity was growing during his time on That '70s Show, so was his career. Like his co-star Topher Grace, Kutcher began branching out from television, starring in movies such as Dude, Where's My Car?, Cheaper By the Dozen and The Butterfly Effect. By the time Season 8 of That '70s Show rolled around, Kutcher was an established actor in the film industry and had just landed a lead role in The Guardian. Due to scheduling conflicts with that project, the actor did not renew his contract for That '70s Show. Kutcher ultimately left the series to focus on his film career.
Though the actor made it big in the film industry, he did return to television occasionally. He made five appearances in the final season of That '70s Show, and years later, returned to the small screen in series such as Two and a Half Men and The Ranch. Though Kutcher didn't stick around to see That '70s Show to its end, he did return as a guest star on the spinoff That '90s Show, alongside his on-screen and off-screen wife Mila Kunis and other That '70s Show veterans. For what it's worth, the series can certainly be credited for launching the actor to stardom.