Lucas York Black was born to Larry and Jan Black on November 29, 1982 in Decatur, Alabama. Without any formal acting lessons, Lucas made his film debut with a small part in the Kevin Costner film The War at the age of 11. The small role helped him land his next job in the series American Gothic. When the series came to North Carolina to cast its primary roles, the casting people in Wilmington remembered Lucas, and suggested him for the role of "Caleb Temple". Although the series didn't last too long, Lucas' film career did. He was next seen in the sleeper-hit Sling Blade and then in another dark film Ghosts of Mississippi.

A bit of Calvin Klein modeling and mainly school and sports occupied the rest of his spare time. He scored another summer hit with The X Files and finally got a lead role in the independent film Crazy in Alabama. Selective about his film roles, Lucas turned down an opportunity to star in the movie adaptation of The Horse Whisperer due to the request of having his accent altered. In 2000, he was seen with Matt Damon in All the Pretty Horses.

A good student, Lucas graduated from Speake High School, class of 2001, where he played football, basketball and a little bit of golf. He plans on studying fish biology, which would be probable since he is a highly active bass fisherman. After a small break, he will next be seen alongside Hollywood stars Jude Law and Natalie Portman in the drama Cold Mountain.
Has an older brother named Lee and an older sister named Lori. Parents: Larry and Jan Black. Enjoys playing football, basketball and has started to play golf. Graduated from high school - May 2001. Had no formal acting lessons - he's a natural talent. He played for the Speake Bobcats as a nose/left guard. He turned down a part in The Horse Whisperer as they wanted him to change his accent. Supports the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He acted alongside Billy Bob Thornton in two movies: Sling Blade and Friday Night Lights. Acted with Christopher Fennell in three movies: The War, The X Files, and Cold Mountain; both had their acting debut in The War (1994) with Kevin Costner. In The War (1994), they were the two youngest brothers in a family of bullies, and in The X-Files (1998) they were two of the three boys who discovered the black oil in North Texas; Lucas Black was the one who fell down into the hole.