What Happened to Kitty from 'That 70's Show'? Read About Debra Jo Rupp Here

With her warm smile and voice that could be picked out of any crowd, it's not a surprise that Debra Jo Rupp is as beloved as she is. The now 73-year-old actress brought to life the beloved Kitty Forman, Eric's mom in That 70's Show, from 1998 to 2006, and stole hearts with her wit, sense of humor and charm. In 2023, she reprised the beloved role in the Netflix spinoff series That 90's Show, reminding us all that Debra Jo Rupp has still got it. Here, read about her early life and career, her famed role as Kitty and more.

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The early life and career of Debra Jo Rupp

The Massachusetts native got her first credited role on a 1987 episode of Spenser: For Hire, but it was on the stage and doing commercial work that she first started out with once stepping foot in New York City. Broadway and off-Broadway work filled her time before a career on the screen really went anywhere, and her early work consisted of small television parts, as well as a role in 1988's Big starring Tom Hanks.

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Throughout the 90s, her talents continued to be on full display on the stage, but she began taking on more recurring television roles in series including Davis Rules, Blossom, Empty Nest, Phenom, The Invaders, If Not For You and more, and also made appearances on Family Matters and L.A. Law to name a few.

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In 1996, she originated the role of Kitty — the well-intentioned Forman matriarch who was far smarter than she led on to be — and the rest was history. Fun fact: When she was cast in the show, Rupp had no idea the series was set in the 70s until she saw the retro set decor. The title of the show hadn't yet been determined at the time of her casting!

Kitty, That 70's Show & beyond

As for the Kitty-Debra connection, Rupp says "A lot of Kitty is me, but it has to be a particular day and possibly I have to be drunk," she told Vulture. "She’s very cheerful. Very, very cheerful. I’m not that. But I can be that on a given day. She’s very, very easy for me to play."

In 2023, the actress was lucky to revive such a beloved character in the Netflix spinoff titled That 90's Show. In the fun new take on the original series, Debra and her TV husband, played by Kurtwood Smith, graduated from parents to grandparents, and much of the original cast returned to reprise their roles as well.

Rupp revealed to Berkshire Magazine that reprising her role alongside her younger co-stars was a priceless experience. "That was a gift from the gods," she said of reconnecting with Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon and Ashton Kutcher on screen. "I cried for a week. I think it was over a week. Every time one of them would come in the door on the set, like the living room door or the kitchen door, I would cry. We would take a break. And then we would resume. I’ve watched them grow up, and I’m just so proud of them. They’re just all great humans."

What else has Debra Jo Rupp been up to recently?

Another one of Rupp's recent and celebrated roles was that of Mrs. Hart in Marvel's WandaVision. While she wasn't too well-versed in the world of Marvel before taking on the role, it was her great nephew Johnny who gave her the push, telling her  “'Aunt Debbie if you don't do this, I will never speak to you again,'" she recalled to Marvel.com. "Then I thought, 'Oh, well maybe I should look into this.' And then it was like, boom, boom, done. I'm so happy that I made the decision that I made."

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Whether she's Kitty, Mrs. Hart or someone else entirely, we can't wait to see what Debra Jo Rupp does next!