Lukas Haas was born on April 16, 1976, in West Hollywood, California. His mother, Emily Tracy, a writer, and his father, Berthold Haas, an artist, both hail from different parts of the world. Lukas has twin brothers, Simon and Nikolai.
At the tender age of five, Lukas was discovered by casting director Margery Simkin while he was in kindergarten. This early discovery led to his first screen role in the 1983 nuclear Holocaust film Testament, where he played the youngest of the doomed children.
However, it was his second appearance in Witness, opposite Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis, that earned him widespread attention and acclaim. In Peter Weir's 1985 film, Lukas portrayed Samuel, an Amish child who was the sole witness to an undercover cop's murder. This performance earned him starring roles in films such as Lady in White, The Wizard of Loneliness, and Alan & Naomi, which was co-written by his mother.
Lukas continued to make a name for himself in the film industry with starring roles in Music Box, Convicts, Rambling Rose, Boys, and many more. He also made his stage debut in 1988, performing alongside Steve Martin and Robin Williams in Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Lukas went on to work with renowned directors such as Woody Allen, Tim Burton, and Alan Rudolph, and had pivotal roles in films like Brick, Last Days, and Inception. He has also appeared in a wide range of films, including Material Girls, The Tripper, Who Loves the Sun, Gardener of Eden, While She Was Out, and Death in Love.
In recent years, Lukas has had supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's Inception and Red Riding Hood, and appeared in Contraband and Crazy Eyes. He is currently working on several projects, including Meth Head, which he is writing and directing.
Aside from his acting career, Lukas is also a talented musician, playing drums and piano in the band The Rogues.