Lucas Neff
EducationUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
OccupationActor
Years active2009–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2020)​

Lucas Neff is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Fox sitcom Raising Hope (2010-2014). Most recently, he starred in the CBS sitcom Carol's Second Act (2019) and co-starred as Duncan on Monsters at Work (2021) for Disney+.

Personal life

Neff grew up in the Andersonville area of Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Meade Palidofsky, is the founder of Storycatchers Theatre and his father, Alan, is a lawyer and novelist. He is of Irish and Jewish descent.[1] He graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in 2004 and with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2008. He started acting when he was mistakenly assigned to the performing arts department at UIC.[2] After college, he took classes at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.[2] Neff has a younger brother. He lives in Los Angeles, California.[3] He and Australian actress Caitlin Stasey were married in 2016, and divorced in late 2020.

Career

His local theater debut was in the Chicago-based theater company Collaboraction's production of Jon.[3] While trying to start his career by appearing in storefront theater and commercials, Neff financed himself by cleaning houses,[4] which he only began a week before being cast in his first major role.[3] His first television role came when he was cast in a minor role in the series finale of A&E Network's The Beast.[5]

When a nationwide casting call was put out for Raising Hope, Neff taped his ten-page audition and sent it in to Greg Garcia. From the first tape, Neff became Garcia's first choice for the role of Jimmy Chance. However, he was still required to go through multiple auditions, before he could be confirmed in his first major role.[4] Neff said of the series at the time of the pilot, "It's a very sweet-hearted, kind show, and it places family first and doing the right thing first. You don't see a lot of that in TV or movies. We celebrate a lot of fancy heroes and fancy criminals and infidelity and, generally, just a lot of bad behavior. It's nice to be part of a show that celebrates decency and being good to one another."[4]

Neff maintained his links with the theater, writing plays,[3] such as The Last Duck, which was performed at the Jackalope Theatre in Chicago as the final play of the 2011–2012 season. It was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work.[6]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role(s) Notes
2010 Amigo Shanker
2011 In Memoriam Jay
2013 Delicious Ambiguity Ashley Short film
2015 Jim & Helen Forever David Short film
We Know You Have a Choice Trent Short film
Glitch Will
2016 I Love You Both Andy
Slash The Kragon
Fear, Inc. Joe Foster
2017 Cock N' Bull 2 Josh Short film
2018 The Attempt Cole Short film
2019 Marriage Story Pablo
Married Young Michael
2022 Low Life Jason

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Beast Young Agent Episode: "No Turning Back"
2010–14 Raising Hope James "Jimmy" Chance Main cast
2017 Downward Dog Jason Main cast
2018–21 Big Hero 6: The Series Noodle Burger Boy, Brad, Fanboy, Chibi Noodle Burger Boy, Pirate Noodle Burger Boy, Snooty Noodle Burger Boy, Emo Noodle Burger Boy, Police Officer (4) Recurring role (voice role)
2019 American Princess David Main cast
2019–20 Carol's Second Act Caleb Main cast
2020–21 Trash Truck Donny Main cast (voice role)
2021 Monsters at Work Duncan P. Anderson, Snore's Father, Richard, additional voices Main cast (voice role)
2022 The Handmaid's Tale Ryan Wheeler 4 episodes
2022 Hamster & Gretel Billy, additional voices Episode: "Hamnesia/Romancing the Scone" (voice role)

References

  1. ↑ "Almost famous: 'Raising Hope' star, Chicago native Lucas Neff". RedEye. September 20, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Raising Hope Cast Biographies: Lucas Neff (as Jimmy)". Tv3.co.nz. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Metz, Nina (September 10, 2011). "Neff finds his niche on 'Raising Hope'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lucas Neff breaks out on 'Raising Hope' and laughs a little along the way". LA Times. October 26, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  5. ↑ Carter, Lance (March 1, 2011). "Q & A: Raising Hope's Lucas Neff and Greg Garcia". Daily Actor. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Jackalope Theatre Presents THE LAST DUCK March 22 – April 15". Broadway World. February 1, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
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