Ashton Kutcher Has a Twin Brother - He Never Left His Side at the Hospital & Paused Career for Him

Actor and entrepreneur Ashton Kutcher has a twin brother, Michael, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at three years old. Throughout their childhood, Ashton always had his brother's back when bullies tried to bring him down. The brothers are still tight today, but they had to overcome a few obstacles as their relationship was not always perfect.

Ashton Kutcher is a famous actor and entrepreneur. He is known for his smart tech investments, but at the core of it all, Ashton loves to see the potential of small businesses and help them grow into multi-million corporations.

The actor's big heart and need to help others grow is something he has practiced since he was a child. He has a twin brother, Michael, who was born with cerebral palsy, which affects his vision, hearing, and mobility in his right arm.

Michael was diagnosed when he was three years old. According to an interview the brothers had with Today Parents, their mother realized that Michael was not developing at the same speed as Ashton, so she took him to the doctor.

Life for Michael was not always easy but Ashton always stood by him. He did nothing without his brother; he would only go to sleepovers if Michael were allowed to go with him.

Ashton would also defend Michael from people calling him all sorts of names because of his disability. One time, Michael remembered him and Aston riding bikes, and a group of boys started yelling derogatory names. The actor defended his brother and demanded respect from the bullies, which meant a lot to Michael.

Ashton also hated how his brother was treated differently because he and his family never saw him as disabled. Each time they stepped out of the house, they were reminded of his difference. "Chris would tell me, 'I wish I could take all of this off of you — and take it myself," recalled Michael, referring to Ashton by his first name.

As they got older, Michael experienced some health complications, and even then, Ashton put his aspirations on hold to support his brother.

Ashton Kutcher Put His Acting Career on Hold to Support His Twin Brother

When the Kutcher twins were 13, Michael was severely ill and had to undergo a heart transplant. This was a terrifying time for the family, and Ashton stayed with his brother at the hospital the entire time, according to their mother, Diane Kutcher.

When Ashton got older, he put his career on pause to study Bio-Chemical Engineering and learn more about his brother's heart condition. Diane explained:

"He wanted to help others and try to find a reason why this virus struck his brother's heart."

Though famous for his movies, Ashton usually keeps his family life private. But in 2003, he revealed his brother's diagnosis to the world, intending to raise awareness.

However, his good intention did not translate well to his brother. Michael confessed to being "very angry" when Ashton told the world about his cerebral palsy.

Since his sibling is so famous, Michael expressed that he specifically chose not to speak about his cerebral palsy because he did not want to be the face of this disease.

With everything out in the world and the social status of his brother, Michael found himself searching for his purpose and wondering how he could use Ashton's platform for the greater good.

The Kutcher Twins Unite

Time healed all wounds, and Michael forgave his brother. In a heartfelt interview with the brothers in 2003, Ashton was in tears. Realizing he could use his voice to lead the narrative about living with cerebral palsy, Michael thanked his brother for positively changing his life.

There was a specific phone call that made Michael realize that he had the power to help people. After their 2003 interview, a woman from Iowa asked him to speak about cerebral palsy at a gala.

Michael was skeptical about speaking in front of a big crowd, so he opted to meet up with the mother and her daughter for coffee. The woman's daughter, Bella, had a severe case of cerebral palsy and could hardly talk, recalled Michael.

After he met with Bella, he realized that his reluctance to speak up about his diagnosis came with a lot of shame he needed to let go of. That's when Michael acknowledged that he was ready to tell his story, and with Ashton's fame, he could have a bigger reach.

Introspection and self-acceptance made Michael aware that he would not trade his life for anything. He now lives in Colorado and is happily married with four children.

Michael is the spokesperson for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. He is also an advisor at Joshin, an app specially created to help people with disabilities find care despite their age.

The 44-year-old father of four expressed that he was proud of his life and the man he has become. He would not have been able to have the impact he had if it was not for the obstacles in his life; for that, he was grateful.

Michael's resilience also inspired his brother Ashton. The actor said Michael's hard work and compassion had taught him that the only way to deal with challenges is to face them head-on.

Ashton also admitted that he often felt bad for his success and wondered why he deserved to be so lucky. Though it came from a good place of wanting the same for his brother, Michael told Ashton to stop making him feel bad for the life he only knew.

Michael does not know what it's like not to have cerebral palsy, so having his brother beat himself up about it did not solve anything. That honest conversation between the brothers allowed them to enjoy their individual lives and have an even stronger relationship.