The Lowe Down
Rob Lowe is in the spotlight again––wait, he never left.
By Michelle Talsma Everson
When you look at pictures of Rob Lowe over the years––from his days as an ’80s heartthrob to now––you can’t help but wonder if he’s found the secret to eternal youth.
At 53, with the same bright blue eyes and chiseled features we remember from movies like The Outsiders (1983) and About Last Night…(1986), he is embarking on a new venture—The Lowe Files on A&E. This time, he brings along his equally handsome sons Matthew and John Owen on a road trip across the United States to explore unsolved mysteries.
“In each episode of The Lowe Files, Rob, Matthew, and John Owen seek out a mysterious story or spooky legend and immerse themselves in the exploration and debate of the experience,” according to A&E. “While fun in spirit, the Lowe’s are able to conduct deliberate and scientific investigations on a highly-sophisticated level by meeting with top experts, using high-tech monitoring equipment and taking in-depth training courses.”
In multiple media interviews, Lowe expresses how the new unscripted series stems from his insatiable curiosity and the desire to bond with his two sons, who are in their 20s.
“Before I sound like a total insane person you have to understand––all that campfire, spooky lure has been a part of our family’s storytelling culture forever––ghosts, aliens, and all that stuff,” he tells the Huffington Post.
The series takes Lowe and his sons on “missions” across the country. They explore a supposed alien base that’s located underwater, train with a top-secret agent in remote viewing methods (essentially, how to identify images from great distances), look for ghosts with a shaman, hunt for Big Foot, and more.
“It was my idea. I produced it as well, cut that trailer myself. I had a vision for a show where I could go out with my guys… And parents out there will understand how hard it is to get your kids to hang out with you. I had to do this!” Lowe tells the Huffington Post. “And we grew up watching these silly shows––Finding Bigfoot and Ancient Aliens. It’s our guilty pleasure. And so we thought we’d do a version of our own for a blast and it turned out so fun.”
Sometimes, in the show, the handsome trio finds something suspicious. Other times, they come to a dead end. To Lowe though, it was all about family time. In fact, the three emphasized in multiple media appearances that the moments captured on film are 100% authentic.
“The fun of it at the end of the day is getting out of the house having an adventure with your kids…that’s all we have are our memories, so for us to be able to get out and do this and have it documented is just an amazing gift,” Lowe says in a recent Good Morning America interview.
While he’s now in the spotlight for this latest project, Lowe has an impressive resume of movie and TV work that spans decades. He rose to prominence as a teen heartthrob in the 1980s. In the ’90s and early ’00s he starred in feature films like Wayne’s World, Contact, The Specials, and more. Lowe’s small screen credits include The West Wing, Brothers & Sisters, Parks and Recreation, The Grinder, and Code Black, among others.
He’s been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and six Golden Globe Awards. He’s won two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
When you compare movie posters or on-set shots from decades ago to now it’s obvious that time has been kind to Lowe. He recently sat down with Men’s Journal to share some of his secrets for continuing to look and feel youthful.
“There is this drive that I have that I think is the real reason I feel and look as vibrant as ever,” he told the magazine. “I don’t let it go away. This is more of what I consider an ‘inside job,’ combined with a fairly athletic existence.”
In a way, he shares, the new show on A&E served as a way to reconnect with his boys and inspire them to always be curious.
“It’s common for guys when they reach this age to get very comfortable with what they do and who they are, and they never have to face those kinds of challenges again if they don’t want to,” Lowe told Men’s Journal. “I got offered to write another book, but I had experienced that challenge already, so I decided to instead write a one-man show. That’s what I’m working on now, and it’s for the same purpose, to become a beginner again.”
Outside of work, Lowe recently also made headlines for helping a dying fan spread awareness of lung cancer in her final days.
According to KVUE, a regional ABC TV affiliate, Lowe sent Austin woman Alex Charpentier an encouraging video that went viral just before her passing.
“How’re you, Alex? Word has gotten back to me that you’ve been a longtime supporter of mine and I can’t tell you what that means to me,” he says in the video. “I’m sending prayers for you and thinking about you. You’re a fighter. I want to pat you on the back for that and hopefully give you some inspiration.”
Because of his kind words, Charpentier’s family and friends told PEOPLE magazine that she had strength to send a video of her own and, because the video went viral, her wish of spreading the word about dangers of lung cancer came true.
For those interested in keeping up with Lowe’s adventures, he’s active daily on social media, including @roblowe on Twitter and @robloweofficial on Instagram.
To learn more about The Lowe Files on A&E, including show dates and times, visit www.aetv.com/shows/the-lowe-files.
