Wilmer Valderrama made a life-changing promise when he landed the role of Fez, the quirky foreign exchange student on “That ’70s Show.” That night, he vowed to “never let his family down.”
“I’ve been given a chance to lift us all, and I won’t waste it. Every performance will be my best,” he writes in his newly released memoir, An American Story: Everyone’s Invited.
Recently released, Everyone’s Invited tells the story of Valderrama’s family’s immigration journey from Venezuela to the United States and his dream to succeed as an actor while supporting his loved ones.
At 44, Valderrama reflects on that promise, saying he’s never forgotten his teenage vow. For him, there’s always been a deep sense of urgency to provide a better life for his family.
“I grew up in Venezuela, so I saw firsthand how things could have turned out differently. That’s why I’m incredibly grateful. I can’t afford to let my guard down,” the actor and producer said.
Valderrama explains that writing a memoir wasn’t initially part of his plan. The idea grew from his work with the United Service Organizations (USO), which supports service members far from home with entertainment and outreach.
“I started to realize that everything in my life was linked to this idea of service. And my team was like, ‘Dude, this is a memoir,’” Valderrama shared.
The book’s release during Hispanic Heritage Month was a fortunate coincidence, Valderrama says, calling the timing “serendipitous.” His goal was to use the memoir to remind the Latino community of the importance of owning their stories and contributions.
“Our community’s story is incredibly powerful, and we need to keep reminding ourselves that we belong here,” Valderrama emphasized.
While the memoir highlights his close relationships with the That ’70s Show cast, Valderrama avoids controversial topics, such as the scandals surrounding co-star Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape in 2023. Valderrama also steers clear of discussing his high-profile relationships with Demi Lovato and Lindsay Lohan, choosing instead to focus on family and service.
“The book is really about my family — my parents’ journey, my work with the USO, and what I’ve learned from those who serve our country. That’s what I wanted to shine a light on,” he explained.
The only romantic relationship he touches on is his current one with fiancée Amanda Pacheco. The two share a daughter, and Valderrama dreams of a future where his daughter won’t have to fight for Latino representation in Hollywood.
“I hope she’ll appreciate the struggles we’ve gone through to make these opportunities possible,” he said.
For Valderrama, his vow to support his family extends to his cultural community as well. His mission is to highlight Latino achievements for audiences that may not often interact with them.
“I want this book to start conversations about how connected we really are and how much we’ve been pushed apart,” he concluded.
