--- name: "Rob Lowe" canonical: "https://film.one/person/rob-lowe" fi1m_id: "rob-lowe" imdb_id: "nm0000507" tmdb_id: 2879 wikidata_id: "Q296505" roles: ["Actor"] born: "17 March 1964" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 80 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-05T01:33:37.651576+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Rob Lowe ## Identity Rob Lowe - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/rob-lowe - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** rob-lowe - **IMDb ID:** nm0000507 - **TMDB ID:** 2879 - **Wikidata ID:** Q296505 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Lowe, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296505, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000507/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2879 Actor. Born 17 March 1964 in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 17 March 1964, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA - **Active:** 1992–2013 - **Also known as:** راب لو, Robert Hepler Lowe - **Frequently works with:** [Michael McCullers](https://film.one/person/michael-mccullers.md), [Mike Myers](https://film.one/person/mike-myers.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 80 (5), 2000s 83 (1), 2010s 81 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 73 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 3, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Music 1, Mystery 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $682m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Lowe, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296505, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000507/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2879 ## Coming up - *In a Holidaze* (2026-12-02), as Executive Producer - *The Third Parent* (2027-01-22), as Mason 'Cap' Hollow ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*The West Wing*](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) (86), [*Behind the Candelabra*](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md) (81) - **Peacock:** [*Parks and Recreation*](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) (83) - **Pluto TV:** [*Wayne's World*](https://film.one/film/waynes-world.md) (72) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Rob Lowe > Rob Lowe makes eager professionals appealing and can turn his polished good looks into something faintly alarming. We rate his warmth, and his willingness to look ridiculous when a part requires it. Rob Lowe's Sam Seaborn in *The West Wing* (1999) is eager enough to risk getting on our nerves, but Lowe makes that eagerness attractive. He lets us enjoy a man who wants to do his job well without making every exchange feel like a request for approval. Aaron Sorkin's writing can be pleased with itself, and Lowe cannot remove that problem. What he provides is warmth between the speeches, particularly the sense that these colleagues enjoy one another's company. Alongside Allison Janney's drier C.J. Cregg, his enthusiasm has someone to play against. *The Outsiders* (1983) and *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985) had established the young star before the 1990s brought a career slowdown and more supporting work. Some of those parts found a use for the looks beyond asking us to admire them. *Wayne's World* (1992) put his leading-man image to comic use. The return to prominence with *The West Wing* made sustained enthusiasm an asset. He benefits from that ensemble: we can spend time with Sam without every scene depending on his charm. Steven Soderbergh uses him sparingly in *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), as plastic surgeon Dr Jack Startz. The face is pulled tight enough to make his own treatment look like a poor advertisement, yet he is selling it to others. We laughed when he spoke, then felt uncomfortable because the surgeon had already subjected himself to what he was offering his patients. Lowe allows his appearance to be ridiculous without asking for our reassurance that he remains handsome underneath it. Soderbergh's refusal to smirk helps keep the part unsettling as well as funny. *Parks and Recreation* (2009), which he joined in 2010 as Chris Traeger, gives his precise delivery and professional optimism a more openly comic purpose. The danger with such bright, capable men is sameness, and we would not recommend a performance merely because Lowe looks comfortable in it. The parts worth seeking out make the enthusiasm appealing or allow the vanity to become peculiar, as Sam and Startz do in quite different ways. Start with *The West Wing*; save *Behind the Candelabra* for when that agreeable face begins to seem too reassuring. ## Biography Rob Lowe is an American actor. Born Robert Hepler Lowe on 17 March 1964 in Charlottesville, Virginia, he began acting in the late 1970s and rose to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Brat Pack, appearing in films including *The Outsiders* (1983), *Oxford Blues* (1984), *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985) and *About Last Night...* (1986). On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn in *The West Wing* (1999–2003) and as Chris Traeger in *Parks and Recreation* (2010–2015). He played Dr. Jack Startz in the 2013 film *Behind the Candelabra*, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His brother Chad Lowe is also an actor. He has been married to Sheryl Berkoff since 1991. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), Fi1m 81, as Dr. Jack Startz — [page](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md) - *Parks and Recreation* (2009), Fi1m 83, as Chris Traeger — [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) - *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me* (1999), Fi1m 73, as Young Number Two — [page](https://film.one/film/austin-powers-the-spy-who-shagged-me.md) - *The West Wing* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Sam Seaborn — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Contact* (1997), Fi1m 76, as Richard Rank — [page](https://film.one/film/contact.md) - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), Fi1m 91, as Rob Lowe — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *Wayne's World* (1992), Fi1m 72, as Benjamin Kane — [page](https://film.one/film/waynes-world.md) ## Complete filmography (122) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Third Parent* (2027), as Mason 'Cap' Hollow - *In a Holidaze* (2026), as Executive Producer - *The Musical* (2026), as Principal Brady · Producer - *Liberty or Death: Boston Tea Party* (2023), series, Executive Producer - *Unstable* (2023), series, as Ellis Dragon · Story, Executive Producer, Creator - *Dog Gone* (2023), as John Marshall · Executive Producer - *The Pentaverate* (2022), series, as Rob Lowe - *The '80s: Top Ten* (2022), series, Executive Producer - *Attack of the Hollywood Clichés!* (2021), Executive Producer - *A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote* (2020), as Sam Seaborn - *A Parks and Recreation Special* (2020), as Chris Traeger - *The Paley Center Salutes Parks and Recreation* (2020), as Chris Traeger - *9-1-1: Lone Star* (2020), series, as Owen Strand · Co-Executive Producer, Executive Producer - *The Knight Before Christmas* (2019), as Derek - *Holiday in the Wild* (2019), as Derek Holliston · Executive Producer - *What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage* (2019), series, Actor - *Wild Bill* (2019), series, as Bill Hixon · Executive Producer - *The Bad Seed* (2018), as David · Executive Producer, Director - *Super Troopers 2* (2018), as Guy LeFranc - *The Orville* (2017), series, as Darulio - *The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar* (2017), as Simba (voice) - *How to Be a Latin Lover* (2017), as Rick - *Monster Trucks* (2016), as Reece Tenneson - *1984 – The Season That Saved Football* (2016), as Narrator (voice) - *Pocket Listing* (2016), as Frank Hunter - *The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar* (2016), as Simba (voice) - *The Lion Guard* (2016), series, as Simba (voice) - *Code Black* (2015), series, as Dr. Ethan Willis - *You, Me and the Apocalypse* (2015), series, as Father Jude - *The Grinder* (2015), series, as Dean Sanderson - *Moonbeam City* (2015), series, as Dazzle Novak (voice) - *The 2000's: A New Reality* (2015), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Beautiful & Twisted* (2015), as Ben Novack Jr. - *Sex Tape* (2014), as Hank - *The '90s: The Last Great Decade?* (2014), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Drew Peterson: Untouchable* (2014), as Drew Peterson - *Killing Kennedy* (2013), as John F. Kennedy - *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), as Dr. Jack Startz — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md) - *The '80s: The Decade That Made Us* (2013), series, Actor - *Knife Fight* (2013), as Paul Turner - *Prosecuting Casey Anthony* (2013), as Jeff Ashton · Executive Producer - *I Melt with You* (2011), as Jonathan · Executive Producer - *Breakaway* (2011), as Dan Winters - *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Rob Lowe - *Young Justice* (2010), series, as Captain Marvel (voice) - *WWII in HD: The Air War* (2010), as Narrator (voice) - *Prequel: The Dawn of Lying* (2009), as Brad Kessler - *WWII in HD* (2009), series, as Robert Sherrod (voice) - *Too Late to Say Goodbye* (2009), as Bart Corbin - *The Invention of Lying* (2009), as Brad Kessler - *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, as Chris Traeger — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) - *Californication* (2007), series, as Eddie Nero — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md) - *Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming* (2007), as Ted Cogan - *A Perfect Day* (2006), as Rob Harlan - *Brothers and Sisters* (2006), series, as Robert McCallister - *The Christmas Blessing* (2005), as Robert Layton - *Thank You for Smoking* (2005), as Jeff Megall - *Beach Girls* (2005), series, as Jack Kilvert - *Jiminy Glick in Lalawood* (2005), as Rob Lowe - *Retrosexual: The '80s* (2004), series, as (archive footage) - *Perfect Strangers* (2004), as Lloyd Rockwell - *Dr. Vegas* (2004), series, as Dr. Billy Grant - *Salem's Lot* (2004), series, as Ben Mears - *The Lyon's Den* (2003), series, as John 'Jack' Turner · Executive Producer - *View from the Top* (2003), as Pilot Steve - *The Christmas Shoes* (2002), as Robert Layton - *Austin Powers in Goldmember* (2002), as Middle Number Two — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/austin-powers-in-goldmember.md) - *Framed* (2002), as Mike Santini - *Jane Doe* (2001), as David Doe - *Proximity* (2001), as William Conroy - *One Hell of a Guy* (2000), as Nick - *The Specials* (2000), as The Weevil - *Escape Under Pressure* (2000), as John Spencer - *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Sam Seaborn — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me* (1999), as Young Number Two — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/austin-powers-the-spy-who-shagged-me.md) - *Atomic Train* (1999), series, as John Seger - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Stanford Cordray (voice), Rob Lowe (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *Dead Silent* (1999), as Kevin Finney - *Outrage* (1998), as Tom Casey - *For Hire* (1997), as Mitch Lawrence - *Crazy Six* (1997), as Billie, aka Crazy Six - *Hostile Intent* (1997), as Mike Cleary - *Midnight Man* (1997), as Sean Dillon - *Contact* (1997), as Richard Rank — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/contact.md) - *Desert's Edge* (1997), Director, Writer - *Living in Peril* (1997), as Walter Woods - *Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery* (1997), as Decapitated Henchman's Friend (uncredited) - *On Dangerous Ground* (1996), as Sean Dillon - *Mulholland Falls* (1996), as Hoodlum - *Fox Hunt* (1996), as Edison Pettibone - *First Degree* (1995), as Det. Rick Mallory - *The Naked Truth* (1995), series, as Rob Lowe - *Tommy Boy* (1995), as Paul Burns (uncredited) - *Frank & Jesse* (1994), as Jesse James - *The Stand* (1994), series, as Nick Andros - *Suddenly, Last Summer* (1993), as Doctor Cukrowicz - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Rob Lowe — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *The Finest Hour* (1992), as Lawrence Hammer - *Wayne's World* (1992), as Benjamin Kane — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/waynes-world.md) - *Performance* (1991), series, as Dr Cukrowicz - *The Dark Backward* (1991), as Dirk Delta - *If the Shoe Fits* (1990), as Francesco Salvitore - *Bad Influence* (1990), as Alex - *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Cousin Peter (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md) - *Illegally Yours* (1988), as Richard Dice - *Masquerade* (1988), as Tim Whalen - *Square Dance* (1987), as Rory - *About Last Night...* (1986), as Danny Martin - *Youngblood* (1986), as Dean Youngblood - *St. Elmo's Fire* (1985), as Billy Hicks - *Oxford Blues* (1984), as Nick De Angelo - *The Hotel New Hampshire* (1984), as John Berry - *Class* (1983), as Skip - *The Outsiders* (1983), as Sodapop Curtis - *Thursday's Child* (1983), as Sam Alden - *Schoolboy Father* (1980), as Charles Elderberry - *A New Kind of Family* (1979), series, as Tony Flanagan - *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, as Charles Elderberry - *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Doctor Cukrowicz - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Sam Alden - *My New Friend Jim*, as Richard Cory · Executive Producer - *The Sham*, Actor ## Gallery - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-138fae13263a.jpg) Rob Lowe — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Rob_Lowe_2012_Shankbone_2.JPG/1280px-Rob_Lowe_2012_Shankbone_2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![A Few Good Men at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 2005.A Few Good Men staring Rob Lowe, John Barrowman and Michael Beckley at the Haymarket Theatre, London.](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-0db5fe4b24f9.jpg) A Few Good Men at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 2005.A Few Good Men staring Rob Lowe, John Barrowman and Michael Beckley at the Haymarket Theatre, London. — Nitin Parmar from Bath, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/A_Few_Good_Men_at_Haymarket_Theatre_London.jpg/1280px-A_Few_Good_Men_at_Haymarket_Theatre_London.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![All of the celebrities that drove the All-New Dodge Challenger. Including (from left to right): Snoop Dogg, Audrina Patridge, David Spade, Rob Lowe, Michelle Tr (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-4cafd0a1a18f.jpg) All of the celebrities that drove the All-New Dodge Challenger. Including (from left to right): Snoop Dogg, Audrina Patridge, David Spade, Rob Lowe, Michelle Tr (2008) — dodge challenger1, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Celebrity_drivers.jpg/1280px-Celebrity_drivers.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Comic-Con 2010 - TV.com NOW Awards show at Petco Park - Rob Lowe wins an award](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-d1ffb0d88074.jpg) Comic-Con 2010 - TV.com NOW Awards show at Petco Park - Rob Lowe wins an award — The Conmunity - Pop Culture Geek from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Comic-Con_2010_-_TV.com_NOW_Awards_show_at_Petco_Park_-_Rob_Lowe_wins_an_award_%284875052550%29.jpg/1280px-Comic-Con_2010_-_TV.com_NOW_Awards_show_at_Petco_Park_-_Rob_Lowe_wins_an_award_%284875052550%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-961ae08f1cd9.jpg) Rob Lowe — Image via TMDB - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-88873930ecaa.jpg) Rob Lowe — Image via TMDB - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-8369ced742c4.jpg) Rob Lowe — Image via TMDB - ![Members of the regular cast of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation including (left to right, starting with the top row) Amy Poehler, Adam](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-e092aee57a00.jpg) Members of the regular cast of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation including (left to right, starting with the top row) Amy Poehler, Adam — Amy_Poehler_2011_Shankbone_2.JPG: David Shankbone AdamScott08TIFF.jpg: gdcgraphics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdcgraphics/ Aziz_Ansari_2011_Shankbone.JPG: David Shankbone Rob_Lowe_cropped.jpg: Rob_Lowe_and_David_Spade.jpg: dodge challenger1 derivative work: KEN (talk) Rashida_Jones.jpg: Arnold Gatilao from Fremont, CA, USA Chris_Pratt_2009.jpg: Kristin Dos Santos Chris Pratt by Gage Skidmore.jpg: Gage Skidmore Aubrey_Plaza_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg: Gage Skidmore derivative work: Hunter Kahn at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Parks_and_Recreation_characters.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Actor Rob Lowe, 2011](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-f2374eebc536.jpg) Actor Rob Lowe, 2011 — HouseResourceOrg, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/RobLoweHouse.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-d02edb74c344.jpg) Rob Lowe — Image via TMDB - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-7c047a5382bc.jpg) Rob Lowe — Image via TMDB - ![Rob Lowe](https://film.one/media/person/9376/gallery-71916505987a.jpg) Rob Lowe — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1986: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (won), for *St. Elmo's Fire* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/rob-lowe