That ‘70s Show’s Laurie left the series in season six and was thereafter only referenced; Lisa Robin Kelly was recast with Christina Moore due to her personal struggles.
That ‘70s Show was a hit comedy series that ran for eight seasons. During the eight seasons of the series run, one of the most memorable characters to have come and gone, and only to be subsequently recast, was Lisa Robin Kelly who played Laurie Forman.
Kelly’s character, Laurie, was recast with Christina Moore for season six, after Kelly last appeared in the show during season three.
Kelly did return in season five, however, as the actress’ personal struggles with alcoholism and alleged drug abuse continued and increased, she did not return after the season’s conclusion.
What was That ‘70s Show?
That ‘70s Show first premiered on FOX in 1998. The series had an eight-season run, and it concluded in 2006.
Created by Mark Brazill and Bonnie and Terry Turner, the premise of the series was, “A comedy revolving around a group of teenage friends, their mishaps, and their coming of age, set in 1970s Wisconsin.”
In the title character role was Eric Forman, whose family consisted of his super conservative Dad, Red; high-strung Mom, Kitty; and manipulative but beautiful college drop-out sister, Laurie.
Outside of the home, Eric was assisted by his friends, Kelso and Jackie, who were played by now acclaimed actors and real-life couple – Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
Why did Laurie leave That ‘70s Show?
Character, Laurie, in That ‘70s Show, left the series twice. The first time she left was in season three, following an abrupt disappearance.
Her absence was explained by the fact that she went off to beauty school. Laurie was beautiful, but as Eric once described, she was born with the devil’s tail.
This is because some of her most deplorable but memorable moments include her dating her college professor, sleeping with Kelso while he was in a relationship with Jackie, and even trying to seduce the local pastor once.
But she did show some empathy by marrying Fez in season five, so that he could get his green card.
Kelly’s exit from the series in season three was as a result of her personal struggles with fame, and the pressures that come with it. She relied heavily on alcohol during this time.
It was alleged that the actress had a substance abuse problem too, but Kelly was insistent that alcohol was her biggest battle.
Lisa Robin Kelly returns to That ‘70s Show
In the time between season three and the end of season four, Lisa Robin Kelly was believed to have gotten a handle on her personal struggles, and subsequently returned for the fifth season of the series in 2003.
However, this would mark the last season she would be a part of the series, as she, once again, fell into her insufferable personal struggles.
It is believed that this was at its height during the shooting of the first episodes of season six, which resulted in Kelly being indefinitely let go from the cast and replaced with a new actress.
Christina Moore replaces Lisa Robin Kelly on That ‘70s Show
When the sixth season of That ‘70s Show aired, Lisa Robin Kelly was replaced by acclaimed actress Christina Moore in the role of Laurie Forman.
Moore, at the time, had already established herself as a popular and working actress with a filmography that included Friends, Beverly Hills, 90210, Married… with Children, Wings, and The Drew Carey Show.
However, her stint on the series was short lived, as she was only part of six episodes before Laurie’s character disappeared from the series, having only been referred to in the last two seasons.
It is unclear whether Moore never returned due to the series honouring Kelly’s impact as Laurie.
What is Lisa Robin Kelly doing now?
Following her indefinite exit from That ‘70s Show, Lisa Robin Kelly was never able to get her personal life and professional life back to what it was.
By 2010, when she was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), she had already had a long record of domestic violence offences. She was then later arrested again in 2013 for the same charges.
Later that year, after divorcing her husband, she vowed to focus on getting her life back together and checked herself into rehab. Unfortunately, she died a few days later in her sleep, allegedly due to an accidental overdose.
Final thoughts
That ‘70s Show introduced us to current Hollywood A-listers like Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who are now married, and parents to two children.
However, it was also, sadly, the site for one of the most contemporary tragic stories of Lisa Robin Kelly, who played Laurie on the series.
With a promising career springboard through her role as Laurie, Kelly’s personal battles with alcohol and alleged substance abuse, resulted in her absence from and subsequent indefinite exit from the series.
Moreover, her personal battles would later be the cause of her death in 2013, as she attempted to conquer her personal battles.