Rob Lowe . The name itself just screams Hollywood icon right? This guy has been famous for like ever it seems. From teen idol to serious actor to now game show host Rob Lowe has done it all. And guess what? He is now 61 years young and still totally rocks.
Dolphins Dogs and Deep Thoughts: Rob Lowe Reflects on Life at 61 in New Interview
Rob recently sat down for a chat and he is as charming and enthusiastic as ever. He is living in Santa Barbara surfing hanging with his pups and staying super busy. He is recording his podcast Literally! With Rob Lowe hosting season 3 of his game show The Floor and even writing a new book. Seriously this guy does not stop.
About the book he jokes it might end up in the self-help section. He calls it What Do I Know? A Guide to Living. It is going to be full of his life lessons things that worked things that did not work and just his general wisdom. Sounds like it could be a fun and insightful read.
He is also spending lots of time with his dogs who he totally adores. He even narrated a Netflix documentary about dogs called Inside the Mind of a Dog. Talk about typecasting in the best way. Rob is clearly loving life dogs surfing and all.
From Brat Pack Bad Boy to West Wing Star: A Look Back at Rob Lowe's Amazing Career
Let's take a quick trip down memory lane. Rob Lowe burst onto the scene in The Outsiders back in the 80s. He became a total heartthrob and part of the famous Brat Pack starring in movies like St. Elmo's Fire and About Last Night. Then he kept working steadily through the 90s in TV and movies even doing some comedy like Wayne's World and Austin Powers.
But it was in 1999 that he really made a shift to prestige TV with The West Wing. He played Sam Seaborn and earned Emmy and Golden Globe nods for it. Since then he has bounced between comedy drama and even reality TV. Think Parks and Recreation The Grinder 9-1-1: Lone Star and his show with his sons Unstable. He is truly versatile.
Even at 61 Rob Lowe still looks fantastic. He credits good genes and also his sobriety which he has maintained for 35 years. That is seriously impressive.
Game Show Host Era and Never Slowing Down: Rob Lowe's Next Chapter
After Unstable and 9-1-1: Lone Star ended Rob Lowe just kept moving forward. He is now a game show host. First he did Mental Samurai and now he is hosting The Floor. He calls being a game show host challenging but he loves it. He feels like he is an air traffic controller a contestant coach a scorekeeper and a one-man show all at once.
Rob admits he is always looking for new challenges and ways to stay relevant. He knows attention spans are short and memories are fleeting in Hollywood. He does not want to just rest on his past success. Retiring on a beach is definitely not his plan. He wants to keep pushing himself and connecting with new audiences even people who might not know his older work. And hey he really does love trivia.
Young Rob Lowe's Hollywood Hustle and Early Drive for Success
Rob Lowe always had the acting bug. He remembers seeing a family friend in a play when he was around 10 and it was a life-changing moment. He started acting in plays himself early on and felt a sense of being seen and having power on stage.
He was serious about acting even growing up in Ohio in the 70s where it was not a typical interest. He faced some teasing for it but he was determined. He even had a young Hollywood moment when he was 11. He saw Liza Minnelli's luggage tag in a hotel and actually went and knocked on her door. And it worked. He ended up hanging out with Liza and her husband. Talk about ambition.
When his family moved to Malibu when he was 12 Rob dove right into Hollywood. He went to high school with Robert Downey Jr. and became friends with the Sheen family. He got his first on-screen role at 15 but the show did not last. He thought his career might be over before it even started.
The Outsiders Fame Sobriety Journey and No Regrets: Rob Lowe's Life Lessons
Then came The Outsiders and everything changed. Rob describes the audition process as intense and exhilarating. The movie made him a star but it also came with a lot of pressure and temptations. He got caught up in the "bad boy" lifestyle of the Brat Pack and struggled with alcohol and drugs.
He faced a scandal in 1988 when a sex tape surfaced. He calls it a wake-up call. In 1990 he went to rehab and has been sober ever since. He says he has no regrets about his journey and feels lucky to have gotten sober. He is even proud that he and his son John Owen have been able to share their sobriety journeys together.
Saturday Night Live Comedy and The West Wing Prestige: Career Pivots and Reinventions
A key moment for Rob Lowe was guest-hosting Saturday Night Live in 1990. He feels like that appearance opened up his comedy career leading to roles in Wayne's World Tommy Boy and Austin Powers. He then transitioned into serious drama with The West Wing in 1999 marking his "adult era" as he calls it. He has successfully reinvented himself multiple times over his long career.
Trivia King Dog Dad and Thrill Seeker: Fun Facts About Rob Lowe
Here are some fun facts you might not know about Rob Lowe:
- Trivia Lover: He loves trivia which makes sense given his game show hosting gigs.
- Dog Obsessed: He has five dogs and treats them like his kids.
- Thrill Seeker: He enjoys adrenaline-pumping activities like skiing extreme slopes surfing over sharks and running in lion-infested parks.
- Partially Deaf: He has been deaf in one ear since childhood.
- Cancer Advocate: He is a passionate advocate for breast cancer research and early detection due to losing family members to the disease.
- Grandkid Angler: He admits to having an "overly inappropriate interest" in his sons' love lives because he really wants to be a grandpa.
Grandpa Dreams and St. Elmo's Fire Sequel? What's Next for Rob Lowe
Speaking of grandkids Rob Lowe really wants to be a grandfather. He jokes about having an "overly inappropriate interest" in his sons' love lives because he is "angling for grandkids". He is even brainstorming grandpa names like Papa or Opa.
He is also open to a sequel to St. Elmo's Fire. He has been talking with Demi Moore about it and they are actively trying to make it happen. He thinks it would be interesting to see what the Brat Pack characters are like now in their 60s. So who knows we might see a St. Elmo's Fire reunion someday.
For now Rob Lowe at 61 is showing no signs of slowing down. He is embracing new challenges staying active and enjoying life to the fullest. He is still that fifth grader in springtime barefoot and ready for adventure.