Published: August 16, 2024
The actor does not regret his life as a sober family man
By Movieguide® Contributor
At age 60, Rob Lowe recalls fond memories of his family and appreciates aspects of his life, including his sobriety and his role as a father and husband.
“I was filming ‘WEST WING’ and had volunteered to be the ‘parent representative’ for the school’s whale watching trip – but we were filming late and I literally missed the boat,” the father of Matthew, now 30, and John Owen, 28, told PEOPLE this month.
Lowe remembered racing down the Pacific Coast Highway and swimming to the boat.
“I remember they said, ‘There’s a man swimming there…’ and Matthew said, ‘I think that’s my father.‘” said Lowe. “I swam with my sunglasses between my teeth.”
This is one of Lowe’s family’s fondest memories.
The actor, now 60, recalled a revelation when he met his wife Sheryl, who was doing his makeup on the set of Bad Influence (1990), when Lowe was battling addiction.
He realized: “If it didn’t work for her, it wouldn’t work for anyone else.”
After several “wake-up calls,” he entered a rehab clinic in 1990.
“I was ready,” he said.
After 33 years of marriage to Sheryl, he says fatherhood is “the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Movieguide® reported:
Lowe often talks about his involvement as a father and how things have changed now that his sons are grown.
“The beautiful thing about fatherhood is that it’s transformative. When you’re young, being a father puts you back in touch with your inner child. You get to relive your own childhood through your children and bring it back,” he told PEOPLE. “You get to experience their wonder and their awe and all these amazing things.”
Shortly after the birth of his eldest son, Lowe made the difficult decision to move his family away from LA
“You have to be willing to make some sacrifices,” he said. “I immediately moved away from Los Angeles with my children. I lived in Santa Barbara for almost 20 years.”
Lowe is currently co-creator and lead actor in the Netflix series UNSTABLE, along with his son John Owen.
The ST. ELMO’S FIRE actor truly appreciates the life he has lived and the life he has now and has “no regrets.”
“I mean, the idea of having such a long, great marriage, being sober for 34 years, having two healthy, productive, amazing boys, going into my sixth decade of life and performing at this level, I know how rare that is,” he says with genuine humility. “If I had gotten the wishes I wanted when I was younger, I would have sold myself short. I’m super grateful.”
Last year, Lowe said that marrying your best friend and forgiveness are two keys to a lasting marriage.
He said: “People say marriage is hard work. I’m not sure it is hard work, but what you need is forgiveness and being really clear about what hill you are willing to die for.”
Regard CHILDREN OF HEAVEN →
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