Lisa Robin Kelly was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Laurie Forman on ‘That ’70s Show’. Prior to her debut in ‘That ’70s Show,’ she had been in a number of situation comedies in minor roles. She is also well-known for her appearances on ‘Charmed,’ ‘The X-Files,’ ‘Murphy Brown,’ and ‘Silk Stalkings.’ Throughout the closing years of her life, she made headlines for the wrong reasons. She was arrested multiple times for various crimes including drunk driving, domestic violence, public indecency, and drug intake, which ultimately resulted in her death. The actress spent her final days in a rehab facility receiving treatment. Lisa’s life may be summarized in a single statement — a life rich with talent and promise but ended far too soon.
Childhood & Adolescence
Lisa Robin Kelly was born in Southington, Connecticut, on March 5, 1970. She was Thomas Carl Kelly’s daughter and Linda Diane Kelly’s granddaughter.
Lisa’s childhood, according to her family and friends, was idyllic. She was really close to both of her parents.
Lisa then relocated to Sylvania, Ohio, some years before she began attending high school. She was picked as the cheerleader for her school’s baseball team.
Lisa decided to pursue acting immediately after graduating from high school. She subsequently relocated to California in order to study acting and enrolled in an acting school. She used to return to her hometown for the Christmas holidays to spend time with her family.
In 1992, she earned a bachelor’s degree in acting from DePaul University’s Goodman School of Drama.
Lisa began her career as an actress prior to completing her acting training. She was offered a role in one of the future episodes of a television show at the time. Her career as an actor began then.
Lisa Robin’s Career
Lisa made her acting debut in 1986 as a small character in an episode of the daily serial ‘Married… with Children’. Following her appearances on the series, she began appearing in cameo parts on other prominent television shows, including ‘Murphy Brown,’ ‘The X-Files,’ ‘Sisters,’ and ‘Silk Stalkings.’
She even had a couple cameo appearances in obscure straight-to-video telefilms. Lisa ultimately landed her big break as Laurie Forman on the popular American sitcom ‘That ’70s Show,’ achieving the celebrity status she desired. Her portrayal of Eric Forman’s promiscuous elder sister brought her much-needed success. Her haircut, reminiscent of Farrah Fawcett, sparked a fashion craze among young females.
Lisa became an overnight sensation. She was even ranked sixth on Maxim’s TV’s Best Nymphos list.
Lisa was basking in her newfound fame and notoriety when she was given a role in the 1999 film ‘Jawbreaker.’ This was her lone major motion picture throughout her acting career.
Lisa developed a heroin addiction during the third season of ‘That ’70s Show,’ and as a result, she was fired.
She returned to the show but was only allowed a cameo in the thirteenth episode of the sixth season. Later in the season, she was confirmed for the entire season.
Lisa was replaced by Christina Moore after filming the first six episodes. The show’s creators justified this as a creative decision, but in reality, it was Lisa’s deteriorating public image that prompted the show’s producers to terminate her contract.
Lisa’s most recent film appearance was in 2005’s ‘The Food Chain: A Hollywood Scarytale’. Her career began to deteriorate as she dealt with personal troubles.
Lisa’s debut television series was As An Actress Married… with Children. The series premiered on April 5, 1987, and was at the time the longest-running sitcom. Lisa played Carol in the 1992 episode ‘Kelly Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’. She reappeared as Heather Talrico in another episode titled ‘Breaking Up is Easy to Do: Part 1’.
Lisa was next seen in this criminal drama that aired on the CBS network. Though the series premiered on November 7, 1991, Lisa joined in 1994 as a guest star in the episode titled ‘Killer Cop’. She portrayed Gina Nelson in the episode.
The X-Files — This American supernatural thriller television series premiered on September 10, 1993 and ran for nine seasons. Lisa appeared in the January 26, 1996 episode ‘Syzygy’. This episode was a part of the series’ third season. The plot centers on a planetary alignment that wreaks havoc on the residents of a particular village.
Lisa appears in a minor role in this 1997 horror film. She portrayed Dana, the girlfriend of the protagonist’s eldest son, who by chance uncovers the source of the paranormal activity in his house. The picture earned a mediocre rating.
That ’70s Show – This was the show that launched Lisa’s career. She portrayed Laurie Forman, who is constantly annoying her brother and whose sexual behaviors are frequently enjoyed by her friends as a source of humor. The public responded positively to the persona, and Lisa quickly became a household name. The series premiered on August 23, 1998, and ran for eight years.
Private Life of Lisa Robin Kelly
Lisa was often in the headlines, more for her personal problems than for her professional accomplishments. It all started during her fifth season of ‘That 70’s Show’ filming while she was under the effects of drugs and alcohol.
She had a turbulent relationship with her boyfriend John Michas, which ended bitterly. Lisa married Robert Joseph Gilliam later in life.
Lisa was charged with driving while intoxicated in August 2010 in North Carolina. This was the point at when her image began to erode.
Lisa was no stranger to handcuffs at the time. She was detained once more, this time alongside her spouse, for public obscenity.
All of this occurred while she was doing drugs, and she was eventually taken to a California recovery center. Lisa died on August 15, 2013 in her rehab enclosure as she was sleeping.
Following Lisa’s death, her husband, Robert Joseph Gilliam, filed a lawsuit against the rehab clinic. He demanded an apology and restitution from the facility for their carelessness and brutal treatment of Lisa.
Estimated Net worth
The estimated net worth of Lisa Robin Kelly is about $1 million.