Biography
Rob Lowe (born March 17, 1964) is an American actor who was a member of the Brat Pack.
Born in Charlottesville, Virginia and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Lowe became famous after appearing in a string of popular movies that included other members of the Brat Pack, the most notable being St. Elmo's Fire. Lowe and his brother Chad Lowe grew up on the Westside of Los Angeles and attended Santa Monica High School, where one of their classmates was fellow brat-packer, Emilio Estevez. Today, Lowe makes his home with his wife and children in Montecito, California.
He is perhaps best known for playing Sam Seaborn in the television show The West Wing, a role which was his from 1999 - 2003. When the show premiered, Lowe's character was to be much more important. But the extremely talented cast — including Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, Stockard Channing, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen (who was only supposed to be a guest star) — soon made the show into the hottest ensemble drama on TV, and Sam Seaborn became possibly the character with the least screen time. Lowe left the show in a highly publicized exit during the fourth season. His exit was quickly followed by that of series creator and writer Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme - a move which saw the show's style change greatly, to mixed reactions from fans.
After leaving, he was star and executive producer of a failed NBC drama The Lyon's Den (2003). In 2004, he tried again in a series entitled Dr. Vegas, but it also was quickly cancelled.
He is currently starring as Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee in a London West End production of Sorkin's play A Few Good Men, the first time the two have worked together since The West Wing. Although Lowe had expressed unhappiness about his role on that show at the time of his departure, he has now repeatedly said that any animosity between them is over and that he is pleased to be working with Sorkin once more, whose talents as a writer he highly regards. The West Wing is ending soon and it has been confirmed that Rob Lowe will return for last episodes and reprise his role as Sam Seaborn [1].
Trivia
Rob Lowe is deaf in his right ear.
Lowe's sister-in-law is Academy Award-winning actress, Hilary Swank (she is married to Rob's brother, actor Chad Lowe, though the couple announced their separation in January of 2006).
Rob was voted and won most school spirit in high school.
Is a supporter of Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League.
His full name is Robert Hepler Lowe.
Selected filmography
Schoolboy Father (1980)
Class (1983)
The Outsiders (1983)
Oxford Blues (1984)
The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Youngblood (1986)
About Last Night... (1986)
Home is Where the Heart Is (1987)
Square Dance (1987)
Bad Influence (1990)
Wayne's World (1992)
The Stand (1994)
Tommy Boy (1995)
Frank and Jesse (1995)
On Dangerous Ground (1996) (TV)
Contact (1997)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
Proximity (2000)
The Specials (2000)
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
View from the Top (2003)
Framed (2003)
Salem's Lot (2004)
Beach Girls (TV Miniseries) (2005)
Thank You For Smoking (2006)
