Rob Lowe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rob Lowe
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Lowe in 2012
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| Born |
Robert Hepler Lowe
March 17, 1964 |
| Occupation | Actor, filmmaker, podcast and game show host |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2006) Independent (as of 2006) |
| Spouse(s) |
Sheryl Berkoff
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 2, including John Owen Lowe |
| Relatives | Chad Lowe (brother) |
Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor, filmmaker, and podcast host. He started acting at age 15 in a TV show called A New Kind of Family (1979–1980). In the 1980s, he became very popular as a teen idol and was part of a group of young actors known as the Brat Pack. He starred in many famous movies like The Outsiders (1983), St. Elmo's Fire (1985), and About Last Night... (1986).
Later, he became well-known for his roles in TV shows. He played Sam Seaborn in the political drama The West Wing (1999–2003), which earned him nominations for major awards. He also starred as Robert McCallister in Brothers & Sisters (2006–2010), Chris Traeger in Parks and Recreation (2010–2015), and Captain Owen Strand in 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–present). In 2018, he directed his first TV movie, The Bad Seed.
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Early Life and Family
Rob Lowe was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. His mother, Barbara, was a teacher, and his father, Charles, was a lawyer. His parents divorced when he and his younger brother, Chad Lowe, were young. Rob Lowe has a mix of German, English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh family history.
He grew up in Dayton, Ohio, before moving to Malibu, California, with his mom and brother. In California, he went to Santa Monica High School, where he became friends with actor Charlie Sheen.
Becoming an Actor: The Early Years
Rob Lowe got his first acting job in 1976 when he was just 12 years old. He played a small role in a play called Sherlock Holmes at a summer theater in Dayton. He found the part by calling every local theater to see if they needed a child actor. In 1979, he got his first TV role as Tony Flanagan in A New Kind of Family.
Rising to Fame in the 1980s
In 1983, Rob Lowe starred in the TV movie Thursday's Child, which earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. His big break came that same year when he appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's movie The Outsiders. He played Sodapop Curtis, the brother of the main characters.
He then starred with Jodie Foster in The Hotel New Hampshire (1984). Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez reunited in St. Elmo's Fire (1985). These roles made them key members of the "Brat Pack" group of young actors. He also starred in About Last Night... with Demi Moore. In 1987, he received another Golden Globe nomination for his role in Square Dance.
Success in Television
The West Wing and Beyond
From 1999 to 2003, Rob Lowe played Sam Seaborn in the popular TV series The West Wing. This role brought him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Award nominations. He was interested in the role because he loved politics and was friends with Martin Sheen, who played the President in the show.
While on The West Wing, Rob Lowe was initially seen as the main star. However, as other talented actors in the cast became more prominent, his character's role changed. He decided to leave the show in 2003. He later returned for two episodes in the final season in 2006.
After The West Wing, Rob Lowe starred in a couple of other TV series, The Lyon's Den (2003) and Dr. Vegas (2004), but they were canceled quickly. In 2004, he found success in the TV miniseries Salem's Lot, which was very popular.
Joining Brothers & Sisters and Parks and Recreation
In 2006, Rob Lowe joined the cast of Brothers & Sisters. His character, Robert McCallister, was very popular, and he stayed on the show until 2010.
In 2010, he became a regular cast member on the comedy series Parks and Recreation. He played Chris Traeger, a very positive and energetic city manager. He was on the show for four seasons and returned for the series finale in 2015 and a special episode in 2020.
Other Projects and Recent Work
In 2011, Rob Lowe wrote a book about his life called Stories I Only Tell My Friends. He wrote a second book, Love Life, in 2014, sharing more stories and thoughts from his experiences.
He has also done voice acting, including playing Simba in The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015) and the series The Lion Guard. In 2015, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a special honor for actors.
In 2017, Rob Lowe started a reality series with his sons, Matthew and John Owen, called The Lowe Files. In the show, they travel around to investigate urban myths and legends like Bigfoot and ghosts.
Since 2019, he has hosted the competition series Mental Samurai for Fox. In 2020, he started a podcast called Literally! With Rob Lowe, where he interviews other famous people. He also launched a second podcast, Parks and Recollection, about the Parks and Recreation show.
In 2020, Rob Lowe began starring as Captain Owen Strand in the drama series 9-1-1: Lone Star, which is still on air. In 2023, he starred in and executive produced the Netflix show Unstable with his son, John Owen Lowe. In 2024, he started hosting the trivia game show The Floor.
Personal Life
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Rob Lowe has been married to Sheryl Berkoff since 1991. She used to be a makeup artist and now designs jewelry. They have two sons, Matthew Edward Lowe (born 1993) and John Owen Lowe (born 1995).
He is a big fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and the Los Angeles Rams football team.
Helping Others
Rob Lowe has supported many causes. He was the first male spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser in 2000, which raises money for breast cancer research. This cause is important to him because his grandmother, great-grandmother, and mother all had breast cancer.
Awards and Honors
Rob Lowe has been nominated for and won several awards throughout his career.
- He was nominated for Golden Globe Awards for his roles in Thursday's Child, Square Dance, The West Wing, Behind the Candelabra, and The Grinder.
- He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for The West Wing.
- He won Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the cast of The West Wing in 2001 and 2002.
- In 2017, he received the Horatio Alger Award, which honors people who have overcome challenges to achieve success.
- In 2024, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Books Written by Rob Lowe
- Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography (2011)
- Love Life (2014)
Images for kids
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Rob Lowe in 2012
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Rob Lowe at the Governor's Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards
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Rob Lowe speaking to the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in 2011
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Rob Lowe with his wife Sheryl Berkoff in 2003
See also
In Spanish: Rob Lowe para niños
