Robert Hepler “Rob” Lowe is an accomplished film and television actor. He garnered fame after appearing in such films as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night, St. Elmo’s Fire, Wayne’s World, Tommy Boy, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Rob’s early success resulted in his being dubbed a member of the Brat Pack, a nickname given to a group of young actors who often appeared together: Robert Downey Jr., Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy.

Rob has developed an extensive list of television credits as well.  He has played Sam Seaborn on The West Wing (1999-2006), Chris Traeger on Parks and Recreation (2010-2015), Dean Sanderson on The Grinder (2015-2016), Dr. Ethan Willis on Code Black (2016-2018) and is set to star as Capt. Owen Strand on Fox’s upcoming 9-1-1:Lone Star. Rob played the role of President John F. Kennedy in Killing Kennedy (2013), a critically acclaimed made-for-television movie which aired on the National Geographic Channel. 

My first opportunity to spend meaningful time with Rob occurred in June 2007 around the time Rob was playing the role of Senator Robert Mcallister on Brothers & Sisters (2006-2010) for the ABC Television Network. I was serving as chairman of the ABC Affiliates Association board of governors at the time, and he graciously accepted my invitation to play as a celebrity guest in the Principal Charity Classic Pro-Am Golf Tournament. After hitting a sand wedge for his approach shot to the 4th hole at Glen Oaks Country Club, Rob’s golf ball struck a bird in mid-flight and knocked it dead. It wasn’t just any bird, it was an American Goldfinch which happens to be Iowa’s state bird! He raised his arms in mock celebration and said, “That’s my birdie. That’s unbelievable. Who comes (to Iowa) and kills the state bird? Only me.” The legendary Rob Lowe/Goldfinch story is recalled every summer around the time of the Principal Charity Classic. My wife, Susan, and I visited an on-location set of Brothers & Sisters one month later in July 2007 where Rob presented her with a beautiful Waterford Crystal figurine of, what else, a Goldfinch. Rob has occasionally re-told the story on national television, telling Conan O’Brien in a January 2015 interview that he hasn’t played a round of golf since his infamous trip to Iowa. 

With Rob’s strong encouragement, several of Rob’s Brothers & Sisters cast mates made their own trip to Iowa in October 2007.  The group of actors included Matthew Rhys (“Kevin”), Emily Van Camp (“Rebecca”), Dave Annable (“Justin”), Sarah Jane Morris (“Julia”) and Balthazar Getty (“Tommy”) all attended the “Bras For The Cause” event to help raise funds for the screening, detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancers among low-income, underinsured and uninsured women all across Iowa. Having lost his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to breast cancer, Rob has contributed his time and talent to help raise awareness of breast cancer-related issues. He played an instrumental role in getting his fellow actors to support this Iowa event. 

Rob is an accomplished film, television and theatre actor, producer and entrepreneur.  He has numerous Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, People’s Choice and Screen Actors Guild award nominations and wins. He is also actively involved in politics, and the author of two best selling books: Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Love Life.  In a review about the former, “Parade Magazine” stated that “the world would be a better place if more stars’ memoirs were like Lowe’s…As entertaining as a Brat Pack film festival.”

Rob Lowe is a WINNER with a demonstrated record of multifaceted career and philanthropic success stories.  He has a captivating personality, and is blessed with a fun-loving outlook on life!

Sources

Websites –

“Rob Lowe” Retrieved from www.wikipedia.org

“Brothers & Sisters” Retrieved from www.wikipedia.org

(June 7, 2007). “Golfing actor nails birdie, literally”  Retrieved from www.upi.com

Keeley, Sean (March 28, 2008). “Rob Lowe Visits Iowa, Kills State Bird”  Retrieved from www.huffingtonpost.com

(August 3, 2013). “3 Breast Cancer Lessons learned from Rob Lowe” Retrieved from www.scrubbing.in

Last updated: November 21, 2019