Eric is the youngest child ina family of four, consiting of his strict, war-vetran father, Red Forman, his doting mother with impending separation anxiety, Kitty Forman, and his promiscous, troublesome older sister, Laurie Forman. He was also the and eventual foster brother to his best friend, Steven Hyde, after Hyde had been abandoned by his own mother in the episode "Hyde Moves In". Eric is the front-man and ringleader of the circus, but is rarely respected. He is the one who comes up with the plans and schemes, often trying to break free of his "square goody-goody rep." But such plans often do backfire in one way or the other. He is often left holding the bag (his friends abandon him) and he is then ridiculed by them for getting in trouble.