Danny Masterson Biography
Danny Masterson's Early Life And Career
Born in 1976 on Long Island, Danny Masterson grew up in a family destined for the entertainment industry. As the older brother of Christopher Masterson and half-brother to Jordan and Alana Masterson, acting was ingrained in their genes. Starting his career at the tender age of four as a child model, Danny quickly transitioned to commercials, boasting over 100 appearances by age 16.
Although his early years saw him in various roles, Danny's breakthrough came with his role in the crime drama Jake and the Fat Man at just 11 years old. Following his film debut in "Beethoven's 2nd" in 1993, Danny made notable appearances on several TV shows before landing a recurring role in the third and fourth seasons of Sybil.
However, it was his audition for "Teenage Wasteland" that changed the game. Despite being deemed too old for the role at the time, Danny snagged the part of Steven Hyde, rocketing him to fame on the iconic series now known as That '70s Show.
Running for eight seasons, the sitcom That '70s Show firmly established itself as one of TV's most popular series. Alongside the ensemble cast, Danny Masterson's portrayal of the show's tough guy grew a huge fan base for him. Masterson was also among the highest paid characters on the show. However, controversies from his time on the show resurfaced years later.
Danny Masterson's Court Case Shocked The Nation
In March 2017, Masterson faced sexual assault allegations from three women whom he had known in the early to mid-2000s through the Church of Scientology. Reports suggested that Masterson was in a long-term relationship with one of the women. Allegedly, the incidents took place at Masterson's Hollywood Hills home after he served them beverages that caused disorientation.
Despite the severity of the accusations, the women were reportedly discouraged from taking legal action against Masterson due to his prominent status within the church. The response from Scientology followed a pattern of victim shaming and obstructing legal recourse, reflecting the organization's controversial practices.
One of the plaintiffs later expressed regret, wishing she had reported Masterson to the police sooner. Although one woman did report the incident to authorities in 2004, she faced ostracism from the church as a result. Scientology's repercussions for violating their rules are severe, including systematic efforts to destroy lives and silence dissent.
Despite denying the allegations through his agent, Masterson's reputation suffered irreversible damage. While starring in the Netflix sitcom The Ranch alongside That '70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher, Masterson faced a fourth allegation in December 2017. Consequently, the streaming service promptly terminated his contract, a decision vindicated by a fifth allegation shortly thereafter.
As Netflix began developing the sequel series to That '70s Show, appropriately titled That '90s Show, Masterson found himself excluded from the project. Despite being the only living main actor from the original series not asked to return, what's more significant is the absence of his character, Hyde. When the first season debuted in January 2023, Hyde wasn't even mentioned, signaling a clear departure from his previous involvement in the franchise.
Danny Masterson's Trials
In June 2020, the legal battle intensified for Masterson and his wife, actor Bijou Phillips, as formal charges were brought against him. Facing allegations of sexually assaulting three women—one in 2001 and two in 2003—Masterson maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty in January 2021. Phillips stood by him through this, refusing to divorce him. She is quite controversial herself, though.
Despite Masterson's confidence in the case's dismissal, a preliminary hearing in May found the witnesses credible and the evidence sufficient to support the charges. The judge noted Scientology's discouragement of reporting to law enforcement. Masterson's defense countered with accusations of collusion among the plaintiffs, citing credibility issues and the passage of time.
The first trial, held from October to November 2022, resulted in a mistrial due to inconsistencies in testimony and evidence, including the presence of a firearm during an assault. The victims claimed coercion from Scientology members to downplay their allegations.
In April 2023, a new trial began, allowing expert testimony on Scientology, of which Masterson is a member. On May 31st, Masterson was convicted of two counts of sexual assault, while the jury remained deadlocked on the third. Despite an eight-to-four majority for conviction, Masterson was immediately jailed.
Despite two-thirds of the charges sticking, Masterson faced severe legal consequences. On September 7th, he received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison, with no possibility of parole until serving at least 30 years.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlene Almedo delivered the verdict, dismissing Masterson's claims of victimization by the justice system and emphasizing that he was not the victim in this case.
Following the sentencing, one plaintiff described Masterson as "pathetic," "disturbed," and "completely violent," asserting that the world is safer with him behind bars. At 47 years old during his sentencing, Masterson faces the prospect of spending the majority of his remaining years incarcerated, with the possibility of parole only in his 70s, if ever.
Danny Masterson's Wife Divorced Him
Danny Masterson's wife, Bijou Phillips Masterson, filed for divorce more than a week after supporting her husband during the trial, citing irreconcilable differences. She has shown unflinching support, but it's unclear if money played a role in her choice.
In her September 15 petition, Phillips requested complete legal and physical custody of their 9-year-old daughter, Fianna Francis Masterson, and the restoration of her name to Bijou Phillips.
The divorce cuts off Phillips' legal connection to her husband, possibly facilitating emotional healing in the face of public scrutiny following his conviction. Throughout the trial, Phillips remained unwavering beside her husband, visibly emotional at the guilty verdicts on May 31 and during Masterson's sentencing hearing on Sept. 7.
