Lucas Neff

Lucas Neff became a surprise instant star of the fall 2010 network premiere season, drawing laughs and critical notice as a gawky, unexpectant father on the Fox sitcom "Raising Hope" (2010-14). A Chicago native, Neff established distinctive Windy City theatrical bona fides, graduating from the School of Steppenwolf and earning positive local media notices in a number of local stage productions. In 2009, just 23 years old, he answered a national casting call for an upcoming project by Greg Garcia, and the producer zeroed on Neff as the lead of his quirky proletarian comedy "Raising Hope." Neff also snared his first feature film role in 2009 when venerable indie auteur John Sayles cast him in his latest period drama, "Amigo" (2010). Upon the premiere of "Hope" the following fall, the show, as well as Neff's turn as the earnest but clueless parent, earned a raft of critical praise. Still relatively unknown, Neff's vault into the national limelight saw him listed on a number of fall 2010 network previews as a talent to watch.