Wilmer Valderrama

We know what you're thinking: Wilmer Valderrama? Really? After all, this isn't teenheartthrobs.com. But the 29-year-old Hispanic hunk, who's infamously charmed many a Hollywood starlet, has also won the hearts of preschoolers as the voice of bilingual fix-it man Handy Manny on the eponymous animated Disney series. Since wrapping up his seminal gig as heavily-accented foreign exchange student Fez on the long-running sitcom That '70s Show in 2006, Valderrama seems to have tamed his rebel ways (no more tell-all Howard Stern interviews for him !), and is now focusing on his career and thinking about starting a family. In the Big Apple to promote this Saturday's Earth Day–themed Handy Manny episodes via an eco-initiative in a Lower East Side community garden, we got the scoop on the actor's favorite NYC hot spots, his thoughts on stereotyping and his belief that Handy Manny is the coolest toolbox-toting guy around.

You live in L.A. Why did you decide to take part in an Earth Day event here in New York?
I think it’s really important for kids in the inner city to have a place to go, to be outside and have a space that’s theirs. It’s really about creating a community. I was so happy to just come out here and hopefully raise awareness—with kids and adults—that we need to take care of open spaces.

Your brother, Christian, is 20 years your junior. Are you two close, and was he the one who convinced you to do Handy Manny?
He definitely played a part in it! When he was littler, I would sit down and watch cartoons with him, and I quickly understood that there was nothing of substance on TV. I wanted to make sure there was something that spoke to him. It was so fun getting involved with Handy Manny. When I signed on, my only parameter was that [the character] had to be a cool dude—no jazz hands! Just a guy that little boys could relate to.

Do you plan to have kids of your own?
Yeah, I would love to have a family. That will happen in the future though. My brothers and sisters and I practically raised my little brother, so I've had some practice. But yeah, I’m excited about having kids someday.

Do you enjoy your visits in NYC?
Oh man, I love it here! It’s such a fun city. I love L.A. to death, but I have a lot of friends in New York so I like coming back. I always stay at the Gramercy Park Hotel—that place is amazing. And Café Habana [in Nolita] is a must.

Who do you keep in touch with from That '70s Show? Does Ashton send you pics of Demi lounging in her underwear?
[Laughs] I am still very, very close to everyone from the show. Mila [Kunis] and I are actually going to be shooting [different projects] in Mexico at the same time, so we’ll get to hang out a lot. Ashton [Kutcher] is one of my absolute best friends, and, of course, I love Demi [Moore]! She’s great. Ashton and I are just humble guys who grew up poor and worked hard to get where we are.