Rob Lowe is one man who has experienced his share of highs and lows. On the positive side, he has featured in some popular TV series and is one of the most recognizable faces on American TV. On the negative side, Lowe nearly had his career derailed by a scandalous event while he was in his 20s. So, what is Rob Lowe exactly famous for and what does he do now? All these and more are discussed below.
Brief Bio
Robert Hepler Lowe was born on the 17th of March 1964 in Charlottesville, Virginia. His father is an attorney named Chuck while his mom is a teacher named Barbara. The actor also has a brother named Chad.
Lowe grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and started acting at the age of 15. His earliest screen appearances came on the TV series, A New Kind of Family as well as in the TV film, Thursday’s Child. He later got his big break in the 1983 film, The Outsiders, a coming-of-age drama about the rivalry between two teen gangs in a small southern town. The Outsiders not only launched Lowe’s career but also established the Brat Pack, a group of young, powerful and attractive actors that included the likes of Charlie Sheen, Judd Nelson, and Emilio Estevez.
What is Rob Lowe Famous for?
Since getting his breakthrough on The Outsiders, Rob Lowe has gone on to feature in several movies and TV series. He is, however, most famous for his role as deputy White House communications director Sam Seaborn on the TV series, The West Wing, an NBC political drama series that debuted in 1999. The series is primarily set in the west wing of the White House during the fictional Democratic administration of Josiah Bartlet. Other stars that featured in the show include Martin Sheen and Allison Janney.
Lowe’s character was initially the main protagonist of the show during the first five seasons. His appearances, however, waned as other members of the cast became popular. This did not sit well with the actor and he soon found himself at loggerheads with the network. The whole brouhaha eventually forced Lowe to quit the show in 2003, alongside series creator, Aaron Sorkin. He would, however, later return for four episodes in the series’ final season in 2006.
Despite the way things ended, Rob Lowe’s time on The West Wing fetched him several accolades, including two Golden Globe nominations for best actor in a TV series drama. The series itself received numerous awards and is regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time.
What Does Rob Lowe Do now?
Since his West Wing days, Rob Lowe has gone on to feature in numerous movies and TV series. On the big screen, the Ohio native has featured in movies such as The Monster Trucks, Pocket Listing, Sex Tape, Behind The Candelabra, Knife Fight, I Melt with You and The Invention of Lying. On the small screens, he has featured in TV series such as Dr. Vegas, The Grinder, Code Black, The Lion Guard, Moonbeam City, Parks and Recreation, and Brothers and Sisters.
Aside from acting, Rob Lowe is also famous for hosting various TV shows. One of them is a Fox game show titled Mental Samurai, an intelligence and mental agility game show in which contestants answer knowledge-based questions while being rotated around a 360° capsule. Another venture that Lowe is famous for is his commercials. The West Wing star has done ads for companies such as KFC.
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Sex Tape Scandal
Rob Lowe is also famous (or should we say infamous) for a sex tape scandal which nearly derailed his career. The actor had attended the 1988 Democratic National Convention, held in Atlanta, during which he met two ladies at a party. The ladies followed him back to his hotel room and they engaged in consensual group sex, which they taped. The ladies later made away with the tape as well as some cash.
The sex tape later surfaced in June 1989 and it turned out that one of the girls was just 16. Her mom slapped a lawsuit against the actor but it was eventually settled out of court. Lowe has since reflected on the episode and quipped that he wished he had done the tape 20 years later. This is because it would have enhanced his career in the same way that sex tape leaks made Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton famous.
