 Eckhart was born on March 12 , 1968 in Cupertino , California , the son of Mary Martha Eckhart ( née Lawrence ) , a writer , artist , and poet , and James Conrad Eckhart , a computer executive . He is the youngest of three brothers . His father was of German ( including German @-@ Russian ) descent , while his mother was of English , Scottish , German and Scotch @-@ Irish ancestry . He was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter @-@ day Saints ( LDS Church ) , and served a two @-@ year LDS mission in France and Switzerland . 
