Lucas Hedges
A young actor who brings a raw, unflinching vulnerability to roles about grief, faith, and fractured families.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American actor·Birthday: December 12·Millennials
Biography
Lucas Hedges didn't just arrive in Hollywood; he grew up in its margins, the son of writer-director Peter Hedges. After a small part in Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom,' he stepped into the harsh emotional landscape of 'Manchester by the Sea' at just twenty. His performance as a grieving, sardonic teenager was a quiet revelation, earning him an Oscar nomination and establishing his territory: young men navigating profound loss and moral confusion. He deliberately chose challenging follow-ups, playing a closeted Mormon missionary in 'Boy Erased' and a troubled dancer in 'Ben Is Back,' often collaborating with major directors to explore the complexities of modern masculinity. Hedges has built a career not on flash, but on a specific, grounded intensity that makes internal turmoil visible.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lucas was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lucas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Lucas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Manchester by the Sea' at age 20.
- Starred as the lead in the off-Broadway play 'Yen,' earning critical praise for his portrayal of a volatile teenager.
- Played a central role in 'Boy Erased,' a film depicting the trauma of conversion therapy, based on a true story.
- Headlined the addiction drama 'Ben Is Back,' opposite Julia Roberts, exploring family crisis.
Did You Know?
He is named after the filmmaker George Lucas.
He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for high school and college.
He played the drums in a punk band called Babe? during his teenage years.
His father, Peter Hedges, wrote the novel and screenplay for 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape.'
“I'm interested in characters who are trying to do the right thing but don't know how.”
