The ‘Fast and Furious’ Actor Who Left Hollywood for a Traditional Lifestyle

Lucas Black, who stars in the new film ‘Unsung Hero,’ takes his sons fishing and hunting, while instilling in them confidence and a sense of responsibility.

MovieStillsDB; YouTube; Marianna Massey/Getty Images

Lucas Black had finally had enough.

The actor who has been part of several successful series and movies left the popular CBS show “NCIS: New Orleans” after six seasons, tired of Hollywood’s liberal agenda that attacked family and masculinity. He also didn’t appreciate the entertainment industry’s negative attitudes toward police, especially because he played a member of law enforcement on the show.

“It was tough on ‘NCIS,’” he said. “You could see a shift in the writing to push certain agendas. I feel like I fought that for three years. [In] the last three years, I felt the nudge to kind of push back. It can be a hard battle.”

He made sure that he closed the door for good on that series, as his character was killed off. Ever since, he has been very selective about the roles that he takes, simply looking for good stories.

A Father First

Mr. Black, who lives with his family in Georgia, also starred in some of “The Fast and the Furious” films, along with “American Gothic,” “Sling Blade,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “The X Files,” “Crazy in Alabama,” “All the Pretty Horses,” “Cold Mountain,” and the Jackie Robinson biopic “42.” But when he reached a point at which he didn’t like the stories being told on television and in theaters, he knew that it was time for a change. And working 70 hours a week on a television series didn’t leave much time for traditional parenthood. As a father to three children, he didn’t want his sons to grow up in the Hollywood idea of beta males. Now, his most important role is that of a traditional father, instilling old-school values in his children.

Lucas Black played a character named Oakley in the Civil War-themed film “Cold Mountain.” MovieStillsDB

Mr. Black played the protagonist in “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” a young car enthusiast who moves to Tokyo after getting into trouble while car racing. MovieStillsDB

Mr. Black acted alongside Matt Damon, who co-wrote the screenplay, in 2012’s “Promised Land.” MovieStillsDB

So he teaches his sons typical guy stuff, such as working on cars and fixing things around the house, in the hopes that they’ll grow up to be traditional masculine men. He elaborated, saying: “I feel in our culture today, there is an attack on our boys to feminize them. The fatherhood role in entertainment has been undermined for a long time. I felt like, as a parent and as a dad, it’s a responsibility to make them responsible men, men of God, and teach them our masculine roles.”

Mr. Black often takes his sons hunting and fishing, teaching them classic hunter-gatherer skills as they help provide food for the family. He said this has instilled a sense of accomplishment in his boys while increasing their confidence in both schoolwork and sports. He has a YouTube channel, sharing videos of time spent outdoors with his sons. “You get to ride shotgun on all my hunting and fishing adventures,” his YouTube page advertises.

A New Role

Mr. Black’s latest role is in the faith-based movie “Unsung Hero,” a true story about the Smallbone family, who moved from Australia to Nashville with little money and no jobs in search of a music career. He plays Jed Albright, a well-to-do good Samaritan who aids the Smallbones financially and eventually becomes a key player in helping them realize their dreams.

“It’s a good wholesome story the whole family can watch,” Mr. Black said. “There’s a hunger for these kinds of films. For me, it’s a story about faith and family. ... They really have to stick together. They take that leap of faith to build this life they want to build. Everyone who sees the movie is going to walk away encouraged and uplifted.”

Joel Smallbone plays his father, David Smallbone, in the film “Unsung Hero,” alongside Daisy Betts, who plays Helen Smallbone, Joel’s mother. Courtesy of Lionsgate

The character of Helen Smallbone with one of her sons, Josh Smallbone, as played by actor Angus Caldwell. Courtesy of Lionsgate

Three of the Smallbone children are Grammy Award winners in the Christian music industry; daughter Rebecca St. James is a solo artist, and sons Joel and Luke make up the group For King & Country. (Joel is the writer, director, and one of the stars of the movie.) It’s an inspirational film about the power of prayer, as the Smallbones reach rock bottom financially and ask God for help. Mr. Black’s character is one of the guardian angels who provide the answer to those prayers. As for the “unsung hero” in the title, that becomes apparent as the story unfolds.

Kirrilee Berger plays Rebecca Smallbone. The real-life Rebecca goes by the stage name Rebecca St. James and is a successful contemporary Christian singer. Courtesy of Lionsgate

Mr. Black and Mr. Smallbone in a scene from "Unsung Hero." MovieStillsDB

Mr. Black said he knows it’s hard for faith-based productions to become major players in the movie industry but that he’s encouraged by the progress so far.

“I feel like in the faith-based stories, we’ve still got a ways to go in the sense of creating content that is up to par with the production and as entertaining as some of the Hollywood films can be. I think we’re getting there,” he said.

There are plenty of films that Hollywood could produce that do not focus on religion but can showcase traditional male roles, according to Mr. Black.

“There are some good stories that are not necessarily faith-based that can come out of Hollywood, which could portray some qualities in us as a man that can be good. Hero qualities, protecting and providing, ... but it’s hard to find without pushing certain agendas,” he said.

The bottom line, according to Mr. Black, is that it’s time for men to return to their traditional roles, both in entertainment and in real life.

“I think there’s an unhealthy fear of male leadership,” he said. “When we have good male role models and male leaders and good fathers in the home, that’s when our culture and society thrive. We need to get back to that.”

“Unsung Hero” premiered in theaters around the country on Friday, April 26.