Although we love him today for his goofy boy-next-door roles, Ashton Kutcher had a difficult life growing up. His parents divorced when he was in high school, and he got into some legal trouble shortly after. But one of Kutcher’s biggest challenges was coping with his twin brother Michael’s cerebral palsy diagnosis, which put a lot of strain on the Midwestern family.
Thankfully, Michael lives a full and happy life today, and Ashton has had no shortage of success despite his early struggles. Here’s everything you need to know about Ashton Kutcher’s fraternal twin and the incredible relationship that the two have today.
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Who Is Ashton Kutcher?
Kutcher (real name: Christopher Ashton) is a Hollywood actor, producer, model, and entrepreneur. He began modelling in New York in the late ‘90s but moved to LA to become an actor. Soon after his career shift, Kutcher got cast in his breakthrough role as Michael Kelso in That ‘70s Show.
The actor’s career snowballed from there, landing him feature films such as Dude, Where’s My Car and a stint hosting MTV’s Punk’d. Since then, he’s worked on many projects, including Two and a Half Men (replacing then-star Charlie Sheen), popular rom-com No Strings Attached alongside Natalie Portman, and box-office success The Butterfly Effect, on which he also has a producer credit.
Who Is Ashton Kutcher Married To? Does He Have Any Kids?
Kutcher was famously married to ‘80s sex symbol Demi Moore (who was 15 years his senior) for eight years before finally divorcing in 2013. While the two were separated, Kutcher started dating Mila Kunis, his former ‘70s Show co-star.
They got engaged in 2014, and Kunis gave birth to the couple’s first child together later that year. Kutcher and Kunis tied the knot in 2015 and welcomed another baby into their family in 2016. Wyatt Isabelle is now five years old, and Dimitri Portwood will turn three in November.
Who Is Michael Kutcher?
Michael Kutcher is known to most people as Ashton Kutcher’s twin brother, but he’s also a public speaker, businessman, and advocate for people with cerebral palsy. He is also a spokesperson for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Part of Kutcher’s job is to lobby for awareness and support; he even visited the White House in 2010 for the Reaching for the Stars foundation to get more funding for cerebral palsy research.
Michael Kutcher’s Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disorder characterised by the abnormal development of or damage to the brain. It affects a person’s motor control, coordination, and senses. Because cerebral palsy is a complex diagnosis, it usually takes a few years for parents and doctors to notice the signs and symptoms, especially in mild to moderate cases.
Michael was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three after his parents saw that he wasn’t running and playing around like his brother Ashton. His palsy makes it difficult for him to perform physical activities using his right side.
At just thirteen years old, doctors told the Kutcher family that Michael’s heart was struggling and that he would need a heart transplant ASAP if he wanted to live. Michael went into cardiac arrest a few weeks later, and miraculously enough, a donor heart arrived just in time for his life-saving procedure.
How Old Are Ashton Kutcher And His Brother?
Because Ashton and Michael are fraternal twins, the two have a shared birthday. They were born on February 7, 1978, which makes them both 41 years of age. Ashton was born first and came out at a healthy 10.5 pounds (4.76kg), but his twin (who arrived just a few minutes later) was under 5 pounds (2.27kg).
Originally, Kutcher’s parents were told that their second son was dying and wasn’t likely to survive. Thankfully, Michael pulled through. Today, he jokes that Ashton “must have ate everything while we were in the womb.”
What Kind Of Relationship Do The Siblings Have?
It’s difficult being the relatively-unknown brother of a famous Hollywood star, and it took years before Michael came into his own and “decided to stop being Ashton’s brother and start being Michael Kutcher.” Still, fame has not come in between the two.
During a motivational speech, Mike called Ashton his best friend. He went on to share how Ashton taught him how to overcome his obstacles even when they were kids. After walking away in frustration during a game of hoops, an elementary-age Ashton told Mike, “You know I can’t make that shot. It’s not fair.’ And Chris (Ashton) even at that age said, ‘You can do anything you want. I can’t make that shot for you. Mom’s not here; she can’t do it for you. It’s your challenge. Stop using your disability as a crutch. This is your obstacle.”
In 2017, Ashton Kutcher was awarded the Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award by Drake University in Iowa, his home state. In the speech, he spoke about the lessons his twin brother has taught him, saying, “Loving people isn’t a choice…we’re all created incredibly inequal to one another in our capabilities and what we can do and how we think and what we see. But we all have the equal capacity to love one another.”
Brotherly Love
Cerebral palsy is a major diagnosis that affects not just the person with it, but also their family and friends. Growing up with a disabled brother must have been hard for Ashton, but being disabled was an even bigger challenge that Michael had to face. These brothers prove that with the right support, you can do anything.
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