Lucas Black (born November 29, 1982) is an American actor. He played Sean Boswell in the films for Fast & Furious, including The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 (2015), and F9 (2021). He also starred in the television series aired on CBS, including American Gothic (1995–1996) and NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2019). His other notable films include Sling Blade (1996), Flash (1997), Crazy in Alabama (1999), All the Pretty Horses (2000), Friday Night Lights (2004), Jarhead (2005), Get Low (2009), Legion (2010), Seven Days in Utopia (2011), and 42 (2013).

Lucas Black
Black at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival
Born (1982-11-29) November 29, 1982 (age 41)
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
Spouse
Maggie O'Brien
(m. 2010)
Children3

Early life

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Black was born November 29, 1982,[1] in Decatur, Alabama,[2] to Jan Gillespie, an office worker, and Larry Black, a museum employee.[3] He has two older siblings and was raised a Southern Baptist.[4] He grew up in Speake, Alabama,[2] played football for the Speake Bobcats, and graduated from high school in May 2001.[5]

Career

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At age 11, Black made his film debut in Kevin Costner's film The War.[6] He subsequently was cast as Caleb Temple in CBS's television series American Gothic, which ran from 1995 to 1996, and in the films Sling Blade, Ghosts of Mississippi, and The X-Files.[7] Later Black starred as Conner Strong in the TV film Flash (1997), which aired on The Wonderful World of Disney; in the movie his character visits a horse every day in the hope of buying it.[8]

Black played a supporting role as Oakley in the historical drama Cold Mountain (2003).[9] In 2004, he starred as Vernon, an autistic piano prodigy, in the indie musical drama Killer Diller (2004),[10] and as Mike Winchell in the football-themed drama Friday Night Lights (2004), directed by Peter Berg.[11]

Black starred as Nat Banyon in the indie thriller film Deepwater (2005), directed by David S. Marfield;[12] as Chris Kruger in the Gulf War-themed drama film Jarhead (2005), directed by Sam Mendes;[13] and as Sean Boswell in the third The Fast and the Furious film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), directed by Justin Lin.[14] He described Tokyo Drift as the one in which he "had the most fun."[15]

Black starred as Buddy in the indie drama Get Low (2009), directed by Aaron Schneider;[16] as Jeep Hanson in the Bible-themed fantasy thriller Legion (2010);[17] and as Luke Chisholm, a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour, in the indie golfing film Seven Days in Utopia (2010).[18]

He portrayed the Brooklyn Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the drama film 42 (2013). Black, having done previous sports films and played sports early in his life, found the filming experience "a lot more enjoyable because you get to reminisce about the days when I used to play, and then you get the experience of being on a team again with the actors and have that camaraderie with the players".[19]

In 2014, Lucas was cast in NCIS: New Orleans as NCIS Special Agent LaSalle, a no-nonsense agent with a "work hard, play hard" motto.[20]

In 2015, Black returned to play Sean Boswell in a cameo appearance in Furious 7.[21] Sean did not appear in the eighth installment, The Fate of the Furious, and in July 2016, Black explained on The Chris Mannix Show that he could not return due to his schedule with NCIS: New Orleans.[22]

In November 2019, Black left the series NCIS: New Orleans to devote more time to his family.[23]

He also returned to the Fast & Furious franchise, reprising his role as Sean in F9 in 2021.[24]

Personal life

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Black married Maggie O'Brien, a lawyer, in 2010.[25][26] They have three children.[25] He is a Christian and registered Republican.[27]

After he left NCIS: New Orleans in 2019, he began uploading videos to his YouTube channel in January 2020 called "Real Life Lucas Black" with a focus on fishing and hunting.[28]

In these videos, Black often discusses themes related to traditional masculinity and his Christian faith. He has expressed concerns about the perceived decline of traditional masculine values in society, using hashtags like #bringmasculinityback in his posts.

Filmography

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 The War Ebb Lipnicki
1996 Sling Blade Frank Wheatley
Ghosts of Mississippi Burt DeLaughter
1997 Flash Connor Strong
1998 The X-Files Stevie
1999 Our Friend, Martin Randy (voice)
Crazy in Alabama Peter Joseph "Peejoe" Bullis
2000 All the Pretty Horses Jimmy Blevins
The Miracle Worker James Keller
2003 Cold Mountain Oakley
2004 Killer Diller Vernon Jackson
Friday Night Lights Mike Winchell
2005 Deepwater Nat Banyon
Jarhead Lance Corporal Chris Kruger
2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Sean Boswell
2009 Get Low Buddy Robinson
2010 Legion "Jeep" Hanson
2011 Seven Days in Utopia Luke Chisholm
2012 Promised Land Paul Geary
2013 42 Harold "Pee Wee" Reese
2015 Furious 7 Sean Boswell Cameo
2021 F9
2022 Legacy Peak Jason Pure Flix Original film streaming
2023 Birthright Outlaw Rev. Jeremiah Jacobs Pure Flix Original film streaming
2024 Unsung Hero Jed Albright

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995-1996 American Gothic Caleb Temple 22 episodes
1997 Chicago Hope Noah Fielding Episode: "The Son Also Rises"
2014-2016 NCIS[29] Special Agent Christopher "Chris" Lasalle 4 episodes
2014-2019 NCIS: New Orleans[30] 125 episodes
2016 Crockhill Mountain Caleb McLaughlin Television movie

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Work Result
1996 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Cast Sling Blade Nominated
1997 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Best Performance by a Younger Actor Won
Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor Won
YoungStar Awards Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film Won
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series American Gothic Nominated
1998 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Movie/Pilot/Mini-Series – Leading Young Actor Flash Nominated
2000 Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor Crazy in Alabama Nominated
YoungStar Awards Best Young Actor/Performance in a Motion Picture Drama Nominated
2001 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor All the Pretty Horses Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Male Breakout Star The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Rose, Mike (November 29, 2023). "Famous birthdays list for November 29, 2023 includes celebrities Don Cheadle, Gemma Chan". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Talking turkey". The Decatur Daily. May 11, 2003. Archived from the original on May 20, 2006. Retrieved June 18, 2006.
  3. ^ Berman, Nat (November 25, 2016). "Lucas Black: 10 Things You Didn't Know". TVOvermind. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  4. ^ "Lucas Black on Golf, God, and 'Utopia'". Christianity Today. September 1, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "Lucas Black | Biography and Filmography | 1982". Hollywood.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  6. ^ "The War | Full Cast and Credits | 1994". Hollywood.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  7. ^ "Lucas Black Filmography and Movies". Fandango. September 16, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  8. ^ "Flash | TV Series | 1997". Hollywood.com. June 21, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  9. ^ "Eileen Atkins, Lucas Black join Cold Mountain". www.screendaily.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Leydon, Joe (March 24, 2004). "Review: 'Killer Diller'". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  11. ^ McCarthy, Todd (September 26, 2004). "Review: 'Friday Night Lights'". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  12. ^ Eisner, Ken (June 30, 2005). "Review: 'Deepwater'". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  13. ^ McCarthy, Todd (October 28, 2005). "Review: 'Jarhead'". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Lucas Black gets 'Furious'". Variety. September 28, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  15. ^ Jacobs, Evan (September 21, 2006). "EXCLUSIVE: Lucas Black Talks The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift". MovieWeb. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  16. ^ Leydon, Joe (September 14, 2009). "Review: 'Get Low'". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  17. ^ Leydon, Joe (January 22, 2010). "Review: 'Legion'". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  18. ^ McNary, Dave (July 28, 2010). "Pair bound for 'Utopia'". Variety. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  19. ^ Carlton, Bob (April 14, 2013). "Alabama's Lucas Black gets back in uniform to play Pee Wee Reese in the Jackie Robinson movie '42'". AL.com. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  20. ^ O'Connell, Michael (February 10, 2014). "'Fast & Furious' Actor Joins 'NCIS' New Orleans Spinoff". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  21. ^ Mike Fleming Jr. (September 16, 2013). "Lucas Black Is Back Behind The Wheel For 'Fast & Furious 7' And Beyond". Deadline Hollywood.
  22. ^ "AudioBoom / The Chris Mannix Show - Lucas Black". Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  23. ^ "The Real Reason Lucas Black Is Leaving 'NCIS'". November 7, 2019.
  24. ^ "Lucas Black Was Cast in His First Major Role Since His Shocking 'NCIS: NOLA' Exit". February 15, 2020.
  25. ^ a b Crouse, Karen (February 8, 2012). "Some Celebrities Play for Real, Not Laughs". The New York Times.
  26. ^ Gillespie, Loretta. "Actor Lucas Black's mother proud of son's accomplishments". The Cullman Times. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  27. ^ Dowd, Cooper (April 24, 2023). "Lucas Black: 'Jesus Is My Example of Masculinity'". Movie Guide.
  28. ^ "Real Life Lucas Black". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 10, 2014). "Lucas Black Joins CBS' 'NCIS' Spinoff". Deadline. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  30. ^ Kubicek, John (May 9, 2014). "CBS Orders 'NCIS' and 'CSI' Spin-Offs and More for 2014-2015 Season". BuddyTV. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
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