In a recent interview, former “NCIS” star Lucas Black said he prioritizes faith above his Hollywood success.
While talking to Fox News about his new movie “Unsung Hero,” Mr. Black emphasized the importance of always putting God and Family above his professional success.
“This is one that’s a story that is about faith and family. And so, you know, that’s important in my life,” he said.
The movie tells the story of how the family of Luke and Joel Smallbone, of the Christian pop band “For King & Country” first arrived in the United States to build a new life.
“I was excited. I was excited to get it because some of these stories — they don’t come around very often and, you know, so that was a blessing,” Mr. Black told Fox News.
On top of being presented with this great opportunity, the father of three was grateful that the filming location for the movie was close to his Louisville, Kentucky home, which meant he would not be far away from those nearest and dearest to him.
“I was happy to be, you know—family and close here to home and Kentucky,” he said.
What’s more, Mr. Black could strongly identify with his character in the movie, Jed Albright, also a family man with a strong connection to his faith.
“I’m married, I have three kids and, you know, my character’s a churchgoer, and, so am I, so, you know, trying to be a man of God, live by faith and be there for the relationships, be present, for my wife and my kids,” he explained.
Mr. Black said his character, Jed, strongly aligns with his own principles and way of life.
“Jed seems like the person that was the same way. He, in the script, he’s wanting to do good and help the community and be the man that God’s called him to be. I’m honored to be a part of this story and what it promotes, you know, family and trying to be a good man of God.”
Mr. Black said one of the fundamentals of the close bond he shares with his wife of nearly 15 years is rooted in “not putting the career before our relationship.”
As a result, Lucas and his wife, Maggie O’Brien, a lawyer, have cultivated a special kind of relationship, one that puts Jesus at the head of the family.
“When we made that covenant with each other and before God and before man, you know, she becomes the number one person in my life and is over everything else. So, nothing should get in the way of that. And so, you know, it’s communicating each other’s needs and—but we, we keep Jesus at the center. He’s the head. We can’t do it without him,” he said.
Mr. Black jokingly pointed at his own imperfections when speaking about how his wife shows forgiveness and grace at his mistakes.
“My wife knows I’m going to mess up and, so she has to be full of grace. And that only comes from the power of God, to put up with my shenanigans.”
As for being a father, Mr. Black describes the experience as fulfilling and amazing.
“It’s very fulfilling,” he said. “As a man, we kind of yearn for that purpose, you know? And there are some things that I have learned in life. And, you know, for me, I want to pass that on. Right?”
Mr. Black is determined to teach good values to his children, referring to his duties as a father as being an honor, a privilege, and a blessing.
“Hopefully, they can become responsible adults, make a contribution to the world, make an impact for good, and grow the kingdom.”
“I feel like there’s a great responsibility. For me, being a dad, and. And I feel like as men we should embrace that. And it’s because it’s the most satisfying and fulfilling, more than anything else that I’ve done in my life.”
But Mr. Black’s joy also came on the back of some tough decisions. Having previously starred as Christopher LaSalle in “NCIS” and “NCIS: New Orleans,” he decided to leave the role after several seasons.
At the time he found that his packed work schedule interfered with his family life, a sacrifice he didn’t wish to make, which led to him departing the crime series after lots of “prayer and consideration.”
“I would work 70 hours a week and so there would be times where I would go to work and my kids would still be asleep, and I would come home, and they would be already in bed asleep. So, that doesn’t bode too well. That kind of schedule doesn’t bode too well for the relationships that mean the most in your life. So, I knew it wasn’t going to last forever for me,” he told Fox News.
“I had to focus on what was most important in my life,” he explained. “I’ve been really blessed, and so God kind of took my career in a different direction, you know?”
After that, his faith took him in a new direction when he was cast as the protagonist for “Legacy Peak,” a 2022 movie about a man who is on a quest to impress his fiancé’s kids in an effort to win over their hearts before getting married to their mother.
“Legacy Peak was really the first film that fell in my lap, first script, after ‘NCIS.’ And that was kind of the first time where the production was people of faith and Christian believers,” he said.
“That kind of shifted a whole new path for me. And so, a lot of these scripts have been coming to me now since then, and that’s how ‘Unsung Hero’ came about.”
“Unsung Hero” is set to debut on April 26. The movie also features co-director Joel Smallbone alongside Rebecca St. James and Candace Cameron Bure.