Lisa Lucas
Encyclopedia
Lisa Lucas is a former child actress, best known for her role as "Addie Mills" in the Emmy-winning Christmas television special, The House Without a Christmas Tree
. It first aired on CBS-TV in December 1972, spawned three holiday-based sequels from 1973–1976 with the same cast, and was a regular feature of CBS programming in the 1970s. Lucas also played Shirley MacLaine
's daughter in the 1977 film The Turning Point, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jill Clayburgh
's daughter in the award-winning 1978 film An Unmarried Woman
.
. Although she has other acting credits, including Hadley's Rebellion (1987), as Jill Clayburgh
's daughter, it is the 1972 Christmas program The House Without a Christmas Tree
for which she is best known, as it and its sequels were regular features of CBS programming during the 1970s. The film stars Jason Robards
(1922–2000) as a melancholy widowed father James Mills, and Mildred Natwick
(1905–1994) as the grandmother. The success of that program spawned three sequels in the 1970s: The Thanksgiving Treasure (1973), The Easter Promise (1975) and Addie and The King of Hearts (1976), with Robards, Natwick, and Lucas reprising their roles. Lucas also had parts in the 1976 PBS series "The Adams Chronicles
", and the 1980 television film A Perfect Match.
In 1999, Lucas thanked reviewers of The House without a Christmas Tree by posting a review of her own on the Amazon site.
Her last film credit was Heart and Souls in 1993, though she has continued to act on stage. In 2002, Lucas was in Denver, starring in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
.
As of 2011, Lucas is single, and resides in Boynton Beach, Florida
with her rescued pets (a dog, a bird, fish, and turtles). She is a freelance journalist, with work published in the New York Post
, New York Daily News
, and People
magazine.
called the film "beautifully acted", and included it on a list of top 10 holiday films in 2008. The Herald-Journal called it a "Christmas treasure" and said it was full of heartwarming moments, especially when Addie gives away the Christmas tree she wins, or finds the star belonging to her mother. In 1987, the Star Tribune
described it as, "one of the best seasonal movies for television ever produced."
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978, and Lucas was nominated by the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Supporting Actress.
The House Without a Christmas Tree
The House Without a Christmas Tree is a 1972 television movie, based on a children's book by Gail Rock, that centers on the relationship between Addie Mills , a bright and energetic only child, and her melancholy father, James Mills...
. It first aired on CBS-TV in December 1972, spawned three holiday-based sequels from 1973–1976 with the same cast, and was a regular feature of CBS programming in the 1970s. Lucas also played Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine is an American film and theater actress, singer, dancer, activist and author, well-known for her beliefs in new age spirituality and reincarnation. She has written a large number of autobiographical works, many dealing with her spiritual beliefs as well as her Hollywood career...
's daughter in the 1977 film The Turning Point, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh was an American actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in An Unmarried Woman and Starting Over.-Personal life:...
's daughter in the award-winning 1978 film An Unmarried Woman
An Unmarried Woman
An Unmarried Woman is a 1978 American comedy-drama film that tells the story of the wealthy New York wife Erica Benton whose “perfect” life is shattered when her stockbroker husband Martin leaves her for a younger woman. The film documents Erica's attempts at being single again, where she suffers...
.
Biography
Lucas was born in 1961 in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Her father is award-winning singer and composer David LucasDavid Lucas (composer)
David Lucas is an American rock and roll composer, singer, and music producer. He has written a number of well-known commercial jingles, such as AT&T's "Reach out and touch someone". In 1981, he received a Clio Award for composing the music to Pepsi's "Catch that Pepsi spirit"...
. Although she has other acting credits, including Hadley's Rebellion (1987), as Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh was an American actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in An Unmarried Woman and Starting Over.-Personal life:...
's daughter, it is the 1972 Christmas program The House Without a Christmas Tree
The House Without a Christmas Tree
The House Without a Christmas Tree is a 1972 television movie, based on a children's book by Gail Rock, that centers on the relationship between Addie Mills , a bright and energetic only child, and her melancholy father, James Mills...
for which she is best known, as it and its sequels were regular features of CBS programming during the 1970s. The film stars Jason Robards
Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. was an American actor on stage, and in film and television, and a winner of the Tony Award , two Academy Awards and the Emmy Award...
(1922–2000) as a melancholy widowed father James Mills, and Mildred Natwick
Mildred Natwick
Mildred Natwick was an American stage and film actress.- Early life :A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born to Joseph and Mildred Marion Dawes Natwick. She graduated from the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore...
(1905–1994) as the grandmother. The success of that program spawned three sequels in the 1970s: The Thanksgiving Treasure (1973), The Easter Promise (1975) and Addie and The King of Hearts (1976), with Robards, Natwick, and Lucas reprising their roles. Lucas also had parts in the 1976 PBS series "The Adams Chronicles
The Adams Chronicles
The Adams Chronicles is a thirteen-episode miniseries by PBS that aired in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial.-Synopsis:The series chronicles the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams , his wife Abigail Adams, his son John Quincy Adams The Adams...
", and the 1980 television film A Perfect Match.
In 1999, Lucas thanked reviewers of The House without a Christmas Tree by posting a review of her own on the Amazon site.
Her last film credit was Heart and Souls in 1993, though she has continued to act on stage. In 2002, Lucas was in Denver, starring in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a play by Tennessee Williams. One of Williams's best-known works and his personal favorite, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955...
.
As of 2011, Lucas is single, and resides in Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
with her rescued pets (a dog, a bird, fish, and turtles). She is a freelance journalist, with work published in the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
, New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, and People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine.
Reception
The Washington Post described her work in An Unmarried Woman, saying the role was "smartly embodied by sharp-featured young actress Lisa Lucas". USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
called the film "beautifully acted", and included it on a list of top 10 holiday films in 2008. The Herald-Journal called it a "Christmas treasure" and said it was full of heartwarming moments, especially when Addie gives away the Christmas tree she wins, or finds the star belonging to her mother. In 1987, the Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
described it as, "one of the best seasonal movies for television ever produced."
Awards
The film An Unmarried WomanAn Unmarried Woman
An Unmarried Woman is a 1978 American comedy-drama film that tells the story of the wealthy New York wife Erica Benton whose “perfect” life is shattered when her stockbroker husband Martin leaves her for a younger woman. The film documents Erica's attempts at being single again, where she suffers...
was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978, and Lucas was nominated by the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Supporting Actress.