Christopher Ashton Kutcher (pronounced /ˈkʊtʃər/; born February 7, 1978) is an American actor and former fashion model best known for playing Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. He was the creator, executive producer, and host of the MTV celebrity prank show Punk'd. He is known for his lead roles in films Dude, Where's My Car?, Just Married, The Butterfly Effect, The Guardian and What Happens in Vegas. He is also the producer and co-creator of the supernatural TV show Room 401. and the reality TV show Beauty and the Geek. He is married to actress Demi Moore. Kutcher is currently the most followed user on the social-networking site Twitter.

Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Larry Kutcher, who worked at a General Mills factory and Diane Kutcher (neè Finnegan), a Procter & Gamble worker. He is of part Irish ancestry on his mother's side. Kutcher has an older sister, Tausha, and a fraternal twin, Michael, who had a heart transplant when the brothers were young. Kutcher's childhood was that of a rugged, outdoorsy Midwesterner, and he had various odd jobs, including carpentry, and other jobs relating to farm life.

Kutcher attended Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for about a year when his family moved to Tiffin, Iowa, where he attended the Clear Creek-Amana High School. In addition to being a student, he played on the football team as a wide receiver and appeared in school plays. Meanwhile, his home life was stressful. He has stated that "I didn't want to come home and find more bad news about my brother" and "kept myself so busy that I didn't allow myself to feel." Kutcher admitted that as a teen, he contemplated committing suicide. At thirteen, he attempted to jump from a hospital balcony, but his father intervened at the last minute. At around this time, his parents divorced. During his senior year, he broke into the high school at night with his cousin in an attempt to steal money; he was caught leaving the scene. Kutcher was convicted of third-degree burglary and sentenced to three years' probation and 180 hours of community service. Kutcher stated that though the experience "straightened him out", he lost his girlfriend and anticipated college scholarships, and he was ostracized at school and in his community.