As of 2025, Dustin Lance Black is 51 years old, stands 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall, weighs around 68 kg (150 lbs), and has built an estimated net worth of $10 million. The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Milk has been happily married to Olympic diver Tom Daley since 2017, and together they are raising two young sons. From his strict Mormon upbringing to becoming one of Hollywood’s most influential LGBTQ+ voices, here is the complete updated story.
Early Life & Mormon Roots That Shaped Everything
Dustin Lance Black was born on June 10, 1974, in Sacramento County, California, and grew up in a conservative Mormon household in Texas and Salinas, California. His mother, who had polio as a child, raised him and his two brothers after his biological father left when Dustin was six. The family’s military moves and strict religious rules created an environment where being gay felt impossible.
He realized he was gay at age seven but kept it secret until his early twenties. Theater became his escape, and by the time he graduated from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television in 1996, he was ready to live openly. Those early struggles later fueled every script he wrote.
| Biography Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dustin Lance Black |
| Date of Birth | June 10, 1974 |
| Age in 2025 | 51 years old |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lbs) |
| Birthplace | Sacramento County, California, USA |
| Religion Raised | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
| College | UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (BA 1996) |
| Memoir | Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our Americas (2019) |
| Siblings | Two brothers (brother Marcus died of cancer in 2012) |
Career Highlights: From Big Love to Oscar Gold
Black started directing gay-themed short films while still in college. His big break came in 2006 when he joined HBO’s Big Love as the only Mormon writer on a show about polygamy – a perfect irony. Three years later, at age 34, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Milk (2008), the Harvey Milk biopic starring Sean Penn.
Since then he has written J. Edgar for Clint Eastwood, created the landmark miniseries When We Rise, and executive-produced the 2022 FX hit Under the Banner of Heaven. In 2025 he delivered the commencement address at UCLA and will receive the WayOUT Impact Award for lifetime LGBTQ+ advocacy.
| Career Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| First short film (writer/director) | 2000 |
| HBO’s Big Love staff writer → co-producer | 2006–2009 |
| Oscar win for Milk | 2009 |
| Directed feature Virginia | 2010 |
| Staged reading of Prop 8 trial (8) | 2011 |
| Wrote J. Edgar for Clint Eastwood | 2011 |
| Created miniseries When We Rise | 2017 |
| Created Under the Banner of Heaven | 2022 |
| UCLA commencement speaker | 2025 |
Net Worth & Salary in 2025
Dustin Lance Black’s net worth in 2025 is approximately $10 million. Major screenplays command seven-figure fees, while producing and speaking engagements add another $500,000–$800,000 per year. Residuals from Milk, Big Love, and When We Rise continue to flow, and he owns property in Los Angeles and previously in London.
Unlike many Hollywood millionaires, Black donates a large portion of script earnings to LGBTQ+ youth charities, especially The Trevor Project, where he has been a board member for over a decade.
Married Life with Tom Daley: Dating Timeline & Family
Black met British Olympic diver Tom Daley in March 2013 at a dinner party in Los Angeles. At the time Dustin was 38 and Tom was 18 (turning 19 two months later). Despite the 19-year age gap, the connection was instant. They kept the relationship private for a year before going public in 2014.
The couple got engaged in 2015, married on May 6, 2017 at Bovey Castle in Devon, England, and welcomed their first son via surrogacy in June 2018. Their second son arrived in March 2023. In 2024 the family relocated from London to Los Angeles for a quieter life.
| Relationship Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First met Tom Daley | March 2013 |
| Age difference | 19 years |
| Engaged | October 2015 |
| Married at Bovey Castle | May 6, 2017 |
| First son born (surrogacy) | June 2018 |
| Second son born | March 2023 |
| Moved from London to Los Angeles | 2024 |
Why Dustin Lance Black Still Matters in 2025
At 51, Black is no longer the young writer clutching an Oscar. He’s a husband, father, mentor, and one of the few Hollywood figures who can move seamlessly between blockbuster scripts and grassroots activism. His upcoming projects include an untitled documentary series on modern queer families and continued work with The Trevor Project.
“Stories are the most powerful weapon we have for change,” he told UCLA graduates in June 2025. Two decades after Milk, that belief still drives everything he does – on screen, on stage, and at home with Tom and their boys.
Further reading:
Dustin Lance Black on Wikipedia •
Instagram @dustlanceblack •
IMDb Profile
