Personal details
- Birth Date: 1976-04-16
- Height: 5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- Birth Location: West Hollywood, California, USA
- Parents: Emily Tracy
- Professions: Actor, Music Department, Soundtrack
Lukas Haas popped into the world on April 16, 1976, in West Hollywood—his mom, Emily Tracy, is a Texas-bred writer, and his dad, Berthold Haas, an artist straight outta Germany. He’s got twin brothers, Simon and Nikolai. Little wild fact: casting director Margery Simkin discovered him at just five years old, literally plucked out of kindergarten. His first role was in the heavy-hitting nuclear drama Testament (1983), but things really took off when he starred as Samuel in Witness (1985) with Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. That role put him on the map—he played an Amish kid who saw a murder, and folks definitely noticed. From there, he kept racking up roles: Lady in White, The Wizard of Loneliness, Alan & Naomi (which, fun tidbit, his mom co-wrote). Not just a film guy, though—he hit the stage with Steve Martin and Robin Williams in Waiting for Godot at Lincoln Center. Movies kept rolling in: Music Box with Jessica Lange, Convicts and Rambling Rose with Robert Duvall, Boys with Winona Ryder, and he popped up with Steve Martin again in Leap of Faith. He’s worked with some legendary directors too—Woody Allen, Tim Burton, Alan Rudolph. He made a splash in Brick, then showed up in Last Days at Cannes, and kept the momentum with films like Material Girls, The Tripper, Who Loves the Sun, and Death in Love. Later on, he took a ride with Nolan’s Inception crew, then Red Riding Hood, Contraband, and Crazy Eyes. And hey, he’s not just an actor—he jams on drums and piano with The Rogues.
referencennSo, fun fact—there was a moment when Haas almost snagged the role of Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, back before the show ever hit its stride in 2005. But he wasn’t really vibing with the idea of locking himself into a long-running TV gig, so he stepped back. That’s how Matthew Gray Gubler ended up nabbing the part and basically made it iconic. Haas didn’t totally disappear, though. He actually popped up later in the series, playing this super chill store clerk. Well, at first, anyway. Turns out, his character’s got some seriously dark secrets and is actually the infamous “Footpath Killer” everyone’s been trying to track down. It’s wild seeing the guy who almost played the genius profiler end up as the criminal mastermind instead. Fans who know both roles always get a kick out of that twist—it’s like a sneaky nod from the casting universe.
Whenever I’m picking a new role, honestly, there’s this mental checklist running in my head. First off, is the character actually interesting, or am I just standing in the background holding a coffee cup? I wanna be challenged, you know? If I’m not a little bit nervous, it’s probably not worth it. The director’s vibe matters too—if they’re just phoning it in, I can’t fake excitement for months. Plus, the story has to hit me in the gut. I need to feel something, or else why bother? It’s not just about a paycheck or seeing my face on a poster. I want to be part of something that means something, that messes with people’s heads or hearts a little. So yeah, I ask all these questions before I say yes. Otherwise, what’s the point?
April 16, 1976
5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
West Hollywood, California, USA
Yes, Steven Haas
Emily Tracy and Surekha
49 years old