Rob Lowe | |
|---|---|
 Lowe in 2012 | |
| Born | Robert Hepler Lowe (1964-03-17)March 17, 1964 (age 61) |
| Occupations | Actor, filmmaker, podcast and game show host |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2006)[1] Independent (as of 2006)[1] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingJohn Owen Lowe |
| Relatives | Chad Lowe (brother) |
Robert Hepler Lowe (born March 17, 1964)[2][3] is an American actor, filmmaker, and entertainment host. Following numerous television roles in the early 1980s, he came to prominence as ateen idol and member of theBrat Pack with starring roles inThe Outsiders(1983),Class (1983),The Hotel New Hampshire (1984),Oxford Blues (1984),St. Elmo's Fire (1985),About Last Night... (1986), andMasquerade (1988). Lowe was involved in asex tape scandal in 1988, which stymied his career for many years afterward.[4] His notable credits during this time were supporting roles in comedy films such asWayne's World (1992),Tommy Boy (1995), andAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999).
By the turn of the millennium, his career saw a resurgence when he ventured back into television, making his breakthrough asSam Seaborn on theNBC political dramaThe West Wing (1999–2003), for which he received nominations for aPrimetime Emmy Award and twoGolden Globe Awards. His other television roles includeRobert McCallister on theABC dramaBrothers & Sisters (2006–2010),Chris Traeger on theNBC sitcomParks and Recreation (2010–2015), and as Captain Owen Strand on theFox drama9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–2025). In 2018, he made his directorial debut with the television filmThe Bad Seed, a remake of the1956 film of the same name.
Robert Lowe was born inCharlottesville, Virginia, to Barbara (née Hepler), a teacher, and Charles 'Chuck' Davis Lowe, a trial lawyer.[5] While still a baby, he lost complete hearing in his right ear as a result of undiagnosed mumps.[6] His parents divorced when Lowe and his younger brotherChad were young.[7] Lowe wasbaptized in theEpiscopal Church.[8] He is of German, English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh ancestry. On the showWho Do You Think You Are?, Lowe found out that one of his ancestors, Christopher East, served as aHessian soldier during the U.S. War of Independence. His ancestor served under the command of ColonelJohann Gottlieb Rall and was captured at the American victory atTrenton, New Jersey, on the morning of December 26, 1776. As aPOW, his ancestor was given a choice, and took the option to stay in the United States.[9] He has two half brothers from the second marriages of his parents, the producer Micah Dyer (maternal) and Justin Lowe (paternal).
Lowe grew up inDayton, Ohio, in a "traditional American setting".[8] He attended Oakwood Junior High School before moving to thePoint Dume area ofMalibu, California, with his mother and brother.[10][11] In California, he attendedSanta Monica High School, where he metCharlie Sheen. In his autobiographyStories I Only Tell My Friends, he wrote regarding Sheen, "We were both nerds [...] he wanted to be a baseball player."[12] On a March 25, 2019, episode of the ‘WTF!? With Marc Maron’ podcast, Lowe boasted that he was once capable of bench pressing 135 pounds as a senior member of Santa Monica High School's baseball team, which has become a reoccurring punchline on his ‘Literally’ podcast.
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Lowe got his first professional acting role in 1976 when he was 12 and still living in Dayton.[13] He played an errand boy in a production ofSherlock Holmes at theWright State University summer theater. He landed the part by calling every local theater and asking each if there was a part for a child in a play. Lowe was paid $150 for the role. In 1979, Lowe landed the part of Tony Flanagan in the short-lived television comedyA New Kind of Family.[14] One of Lowe's earliest roles came in the 1983 television filmThursday's Child, for which he received his firstGolden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.[15] He also appeared in the music video forThe Go-Go's song, "Turn to You".[16]
His breakthrough role, however, was as Sodapop Curtis inFrancis Ford Coppola's 1983 cinematic adaptation ofS. E. Hinton'snovel,The Outsiders, where he shared the screen with an ensemble cast that includedTom Cruise,Matt Dillon,Emilio Estevez,Leif Garrett,C. Thomas Howell,Diane Lane,Ralph Macchio, andPatrick Swayze.[17] Next in 1984, he starred oppositeJodie Foster inTony Richardson'sThe Hotel New Hampshire.[18] Lowe and Estevez reunited inSt. Elmo's Fire, making them the two more prominent actors from the group known as theBrat Pack.About Last Night... followed, withDemi Moore (who had starred alongside Lowe inSt. Elmo's Fire).[19] He then received his second Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the mentally disabled Rory inSquare Dance (1987).[20]
In August 1987, he performed on stage, playing Baron Tusenbach in Chekov'sThe Three Sisters at The Williamstown Theatre Festival.[21] In 1993, while filming a British TV production of theTennessee Williams playSuddenly, Last Summer withMaggie Smith andNatasha Richardson, he recalled in an interview that he had run intoPaul Newman four years earlier at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and that Newman had encouraged him to continue to work in theatre.[22] In 1989, as part of the opening ceremony for the (critically derided) telecast of the61st Academy Awards produced byAllan Carr,[23] Lowe made his musical debut singing a reworked duet ofCreedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary" alongside actress Eileen Bowman,[24] who was dressed as an unauthorized depiction ofSnow White.[25] Lowe appeared in 1992'sWayne's World and 1994'sThe Stand, based onStephen King'sbook of the same name.[26]
He playedSam Seaborn in the television seriesThe West Wing from 1999 to 2003 (and briefly in 2006). His performance in the show garnered Lowe aPrimetime Emmy Award nomination[27] and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Drama Series.[28] Lowe was drawn to the role because of his personal love of politics, and his longstanding friendship withMartin Sheen, who was cast as PresidentJosiah Bartlet.
When the show premiered, Lowe was considered the lead, and the pilot centered on his character. But as other members of the cast —includingAllison Janney,Richard Schiff,Janel Moloney,Dulé Hill,John Spencer,Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen (who was initially scripted as a small role), andStockard Channing (whoseFirst Lady was initially scripted as a guest role)— grew more popular, Lowe's character no longer served as the show's main focus. Lowe and series creatorAaron Sorkin soon found themselves at odds over the network's meddling with the show, most notably the network demanding changes in Lowe's character. Eventually, Lowe left the series, not long before Sorkin and director/executive producerThomas Schlamme resigned over a dispute withNBC.
During the final season ofThe West Wing, Lowe returned to his role of Sam Seaborn, appearing in two of the final four episodes. In 2011, Lowe stated onThe Oprah Winfrey Show that he left the show because he did not feel he was being respected, when the other lead characters received a raise and he did not.[29] After leavingThe West Wing, Lowe was the star and executive producer of a failed NBC drama,The Lyon's Den (2003).[30] In 2004, he tried again in a series entitledDr. Vegas, but it also was quickly canceled.[31]
Lowe passed on the role ofDerek Shepherd onGrey's Anatomy, which eventually went toPatrick Dempsey.[32] Despite his two canceled TV series and flops likeView From the Top and the made-for-TV moviePerfect Strangers during his post–West Wing run,[33] Lowe found success in the TV miniseries genre. In 2004, Lowe starred in theTNT remake of the Stephen King miniseriesSalem's Lot, which was the highest-rated cable program of that summer and the highest ratings TNT original programming had at the time.[34] In 2005, he starred as Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee in Sorkin's London West End production ofA Few Good Men, the first time the two had worked together sinceThe West Wing. Although Lowe had expressed unhappiness about his decreased 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 was pleased to be working once more with Sorkin.[citation needed] That same year, Lowe starred in the miniseriesBeach Girls on theLifetime network, based on theLuanne Rice novel of the same name.[35] The series premiere received the highest ratings for a movie premiere in Lifetime history.[citation needed] Later, Lowe filmed his supporting role as a movie agent in the 2006 independent filmThank You for Smoking.[36]
In 2006, he filmedThe Perfect Day for TNT, in which he took a pay cut to film inNew Orleans in order to help theHurricane Katrina-ravaged area. That same year, Lowe filmedStir of Echoes: The Homecoming, the sequel to the 1999Kevin Bacon thrillerStir of Echoes, and it was announced that Lowe would join the cast ofBrothers & Sisters for a guest run of several episodes. In January 2007, ABC announced that Lowe would be staying onBrothers and Sisters as a "special guest star" for the rest of Season 1 after Lowe's initial appearance on the show in November 2006 brought the best ratings and demographic showing for the show since its premiere. Soon after ABC announced an early Season 2 renewal forBrother & Sisters in March 2007, Lowe announced he would be returning for the show's second season. He continued to appear in the series until the end of the 2009–10 season. Then, Lowe announced he would leave, unhappy with the stories and his lack of screen time in the fourth season. In an episode broadcast on May 16, 2010, his character was part of a multi-vehicle crash involving a large truck and was put into acoma. The storyline was wrapped up in the first episode of the fifth season; Lowe did not appear in the episode.
In June 2006, he was the guest host for an episode in the third series ofThe Friday Night Project for the United Kingdom's Channel 4. Lowe has also appeared in a televised advertisement for 'Visit California' with other celebrities, including GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger. (In the advertisement campaign, he was usually pictured in a white tee-shirt printed with the California state flag.) Lowe had a supporting role in the 2009 movieThe Invention of Lying[37] and a leading role inToo Late to Say Goodbye.[38]
In 2010, he appeared in the biography of theBrat Packers called:Brat Pack: Where Are They Now? He also appeared onThe Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. That same year, he partnered with44 Blue Productions to develop a reality television pilot titled Potomac Fever, intended to follow the lives of young professionals inWashington, D.C. A pilot was commissioned by the E! network, but the series was not picked up for full production and ultimately did not air.[39] In July 2010, it was announced that Lowe would be providing the voice for the superheroCaptain Marvel in the animated seriesYoung Justice.[40] It was also announced in July 2010 that Lowe would become a series regular on the seriesParks and Recreation.[41] He portrayedChris Traeger, the relentlessly upbeat city manager of the fictional town ofPawnee, Indiana, for four seasons, before his character was written out of the show in 2014. He was so pleased with the show and his guest appearances on season 2 that he agreed to become a full-fledged cast member. He reprised the role in the 2015 series finale, "One Last Ride", and in the 2020 special episode "AParks and Recreation Special".
In 2011, Lowe guest starred in a recurring role onShowtime's comedyCalifornication. Lowe featured as the troubled but in-demand actor Eddie Nero – a character based upon "about ten people," according to Lowe[42] but somewhat contradicted by sources at Showtime itself[43] – employed to portray Hank in a film version of his book,Fucking and Punching.[44] In 2011, Lowe wrote a memoir titledStories I Only Tell My Friends, which was released in May 2011.[45][46] During his promotional tour forStories I Only Tell My Friends, Lowe toldAustralian radio showThe Kyle & Jackie O Show that during his five-day press visit to Australia in 1990, he was so badly affected by the overuse ofpainkillers that the only two things he remembers from the trip were being at theSydney Zoo and getting atattoo,[47] although he states in his book that he does not remember getting the tattoo. In 2014, Lowe wrote a second book titledLove Life, which was released in April that year. He uses stories and observations from his life in a poignant and humorous series of true tales about men and women, art and commerce, fathers and sons, addiction and recovery, and sex and love.
In 2014, Lowe starred in apilot for thesingle-camera comedyThe Pro as Ben Bertrahm, a former professionaltennis player.[48] The pilot was not picked up for series.[49][50] He also narratedThe '90s: The Last Great Decade? on theNational Geographic Channel, which aired in July of that year.[51] In 2015, Lowe starred in the satirical thrillerPocket Listing[52] Lowe has been a commercial spokesman forDirecTV since fall 2014. Commercials featuring Lowe contrast him with some alternate, less appealing form of Lowe, who instead hascable.[53] The advertisements were pulled in April 2015 after theNational Advertising Division, acting on a complaint byComcast, found DirecTV's claims about its customer satisfaction, quality, and ranking to be less than truthful.[54] In February 2015, Fox announced they had greenlit a pilot for the comedyThe Grinder starring Lowe andFred Savage, and directed byJake Kasdan.[55] The series, in which Lowe starred as a washed-up actor starting a new career as a lawyer, was cancelled after one season. In November 2015, Lowe voicedSimba in the television pilot movieThe Lion Guard: Return of the Roar. Lowe continued to voice Simba for its subsequent seriesThe Lion Guard.[56] In December 2015, Lowe was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located in front of the Musso and Frank Grill onHollywood Boulevard.[57] In 2015, Lowe launched Profile™,[58] a men's skincare product line. The line features a collection of five antiaging products specially formulated for men. It is currently sold atNordstrom stores and online.[59] The product collection includes a cleanser, a shave gel, an aftershave serum, a moisturizer, and an eye serum in the price range of $24.50 to $59.50.[60] In 2016, Lowe launched a fragrance product line called 18 Amber Wood with the Profile™ brand.[61]
On August 27, 2016, aComedy Central Roast TV special was recorded and aired on September 5, 2016, with Rob Lowe as the Roastee andDavid Spade as Roast Master. Amongst the Roasters wereJewel,Nikki Glaser,Ralph Macchio,Pete Davidson,Peyton Manning,Rob Riggle,Jimmy Carr,Ann Coulter and the "Roast Master General"Jeff Ross.[62] On April 21, 2017,KFC released a campaign featuring Lowe asastronautColonel Sanders giving aJFK speechspoof/homage about launching the Zinger chicken sandwich into space.[63] Lowe said in a statement that when he was a child, his grandfather took him to meetHarland Sanders.[64] In late autumn 2017, Lowe began a reality series with his two sons, 24-year-old Matthew and 22-year-old Jon Owen, onA&E titledThe Lowe Files. With the exception of the hour-long pilot, the series featured 30-minute road trips with the Lowe boys, and occasional TV guest stars known in the field, investigating common urban myths and legends that Rob has loved since he was a young boy and has shared with his boys throughout their growth. Some of the topics being explored are Bigfoot/Sasquatch, the alleged unidentified "submerged" objects that may have a base off the coast from Los Angeles, alien abduction, and ghosts and their direct responses to stimuli. The series debuted on August 2, 2017, and lasted one season. Lowe has said he hadn't planned on more than one season because of scheduling difficulties.[65]
On January 3, 2018,Atkins Nutritionals announced Lowe as a new brand spokesperson. Due to his "low carb lifestyle," Lowe was selected for a series of multimedia ads that were still appearing in 2024.[66][67] In October 2018, it was announced that Lowe would star in anITV series,Wild Bill, about an American policeman who moves toBoston, Lincolnshire, with his daughter.[68] While the show was cancelled by ITV after one season, there were hopes it would be picked up by Netflix or Hulu at a future date.[69] On March 19, 2019, Lowe began hosting theFox competition seriesMental Samurai where he also served as a producer. It lasted two seasons.[70]
Lowe began hosting a podcast calledLiterally! With Rob Lowe on June 25, 2020. Guests includedChris Pratt andConan O'Brien.[71] In September 2021, Lowe launched a second podcast, aParks and Recreation recap show calledParks and Recollection, alongsideParks and Rec writer and producerAlan Yang.[72] Lowe directed a short documentary,Madness in the Hills, which is about the mudslides that killed 23 people in Southern California in January 2018, including many friends and neighbors of Lowe. It debuted on thePeacock streaming service on October 9, 2020.[73] On May 12, 2019, it was announced that a spin-off the9-1-1 series titled9-1-1: Lone Star was ordered to series with Lowe in the starring role of Owen Strand.[74] The series premiered on January 19, 2020, to generally favorable reviews and was renewed for a second season, which premiered on January 18, 2021. The fifth and final season concluded on February 3, 2025.[75]
In June 2021, as a surprise birthday present to his wife, he fulfilled her dream to be a contestant with him and their children onCelebrityFamily Feud.[76] On August 6, 2021, Deadline revealed that Lowe will star and executive produce the Netflix movieDog Gone.[77]Lowe will offer commentary inThe Andy Warhol Diaries, premiering on Netflix on March 9, 2022.[78] On April 6, 2022, it was announced that Lowe will star in and executive produceUnstable withVictor Fresco and his sonJohn Owen Lowe forNetflix.[79] The show, which follows Lowe as successful biotech entrepreneur Ellis Dragon as he struggles to deal with his son and regain his footing following the death of his wife, premiered on March 30, 2023.[80]
In January 2024 he began hostingThe Floor, a trivia game show. In March 2024 he signed a production deal withFox following the show's renewal on the network for seasons two and three.[81] In 2024, he appeared inAndrew McCarthy'sHulu documentary about the Brat Pack titledBrats.[82] He said on his podcast in 2025 and in a subsequent magazine article that he declined an unspecified television series because it was going to film in New York, as part of a larger conversation criticizing lack of support for the film industry in Los Angeles and the United States, noting that he filmedThe Floor in Dublin.[83][84]
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Lowe has been married to former makeup artist Sheryl Berkoff since 1991. She has worked as an interior designer and founder of Sheryl Lowe Jewelry.[76] They met on a blind date in 1983, and again on the set of Lowe's movieBad Influence.[85] They have two sons: Matthew Edward Lowe (b. 1993) andJohn Owen Lowe (b. 1995).[2]
Lowe is a fan of theLos Angeles Dodgers and theLos Angeles Rams.[86][87][88]
In 1988, Lowe, who was 24 years old at the time, was involved in a sex scandal over avideotape of him having sex with two people, one of whom was 22 and the other her 16-year-old friend. The three met at Club Rio, an Atlanta nightclub. They were videotaped the night before the1988 Democratic National Convention inAtlanta, Georgia. As theage of consent in Georgia was 14 at the time (in 1995 it was raised to 16), both were of legal age to engage in sexual activity, but 18 was the legal age to be involved in such a recording.[4] At the time, Lowe was campaigning forMichael Dukakis.[89][90] Eventually, his career rebounded and Lowe mocked his own behavior during two post-scandal appearances as host ofSaturday Night Live.[91]
Lowe began drinking heavily as a teenager. His early fame allowed him to lead a hard-partying lifestyle that was covered extensively in the tabloids.[92] In 1990, two years following the sex tape scandal, Lowe decided to quit drinking and completed an extensive alcohol rehabilitation program.[93] He has maintained sobriety ever since, saying it was the best decision of his life.[94][95] Adopting a dailyTranscendental Meditation practice has been instrumental to his well-being. "It's changed my life," says Lowe.[96]
In April 2008, Lowe filed separate lawsuits against three former employees, accusing them of breach of contract, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Lowe accused an ex‑nanny of engaging in a scheme to hurt him and his wife by spreading "malicious lies." Another former nanny was accused of falsely claiming to have had a personal and intimate relationship with Lowe, and also repeatedly expressing romantic interest in Lowe, claiming Lowe sexually harassed her and that Sheryl Lowe was an abusive employer. Lowe also claimed a former chef engaged in sex on their bed when the family was out of town, stole prescription drugs from the Lowes, broke several security cameras, overcharged them for food, and allegedly made statements to various people that Sheryl was heartless, cold, and unclean.[97]
Jessica Gibson, Lowe's 24-year-old former nanny, made 12 allegations against Lowe involvingsexual harassment claims and labor-code violations. On June 19, 2008,Santa Barbara, California,Superior Court Judge Denise de Bellefeuille dismissed two allegations regarding labor-code violations due to lack of legal basis.[98] The legal battle ended in May 2009. The press reported that court records showed that lawsuits filed by both nannies and Lowe were dismissed in Santa Barbara. Attorneys for both women and Lowe sought the dismissals.[99]
Lowe was the first male spokesman for the 2000Lee National Denim Day fundraiser, which raises money forbreast cancer research and education. His grandmother and great-grandmother both suffered from breast cancer, and his mother died of the disease in late 2003.[100][101]
Lowe is a founder of the Homeowner's Defense Fund, a Santa Barbara County non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to local control of land-use planning and transparency in government. The average price of tract homes in Santa Barbara in early 2006 was US$1,100,000, which motivated some to propose denser housing on existing lots. While in favor of increasing housing density, Lowe sought to build a 14,260-square-foot (1,325 m2) mansion for himself on an empty lot inMontecito, California.[102] His protest over the appearance of the address of the empty lot in theSanta Barbara News-Press precipitated a mass resignation of senior employees at that newspaper on July 6, 2006.[103][104][105]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Outsiders | Sodapop Curtis | ||
| Class | Franklin 'Skip' Burroughs IV | |||
| 1984 | The Hotel New Hampshire | John Berry | ||
| Oxford Blues | Nick De Angelo | |||
| 1985 | St. Elmo's Fire | Billy Hicks | ||
| 1986 | Youngblood | Dean Youngblood | ||
| About Last Night | Danny Martin | |||
| 1987 | Square Dance | Rory Torrance | ||
| 1988 | Masquerade | Tim Whalen | ||
| Illegally Yours | Richard Dice | |||
| 1990 | Bad Influence | Alex | ||
| 1991 | If The Shoe Fits | Francesco Salvitore | ||
| 1991 | The Dark Backward | Dirk Delta | ||
| 1992 | Wayne's World | Benjamin Kane | ||
| The Finest Hour | Lawrence Hammer | Direct-to-video | ||
| 1994 | Frank and Jesse | Jesse James | Also co-producer | |
| 1995 | Tommy Boy | Paul Barish | Uncredited | |
| 1996 | First Degree | Det. Rick Mallory | Direct-to-video | |
| Mulholland Falls | Hoodlum | Uncredited | ||
| 1997 | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | Decapitated henchman's friend | Uncredited cameo | |
| Living in Peril | Walter Woods | Direct-to-video | ||
| Contact | Richard Rank | |||
| Hostile Intent | Cleary | Direct-to-video | ||
| 1998 | For Hire | Mitch Lawrence | ||
| One Hell of a Guy | Nick | |||
| Crazy Six | Billie/Crazy Six | |||
| 1999 | Dead Silent | Kevin Finney | ||
| Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me | Young Number Two | |||
| 2000 | Escape Under Pressure | John Spencer | Direct-to-video | |
| The Specials | The Weevil/Tony | |||
| 2001 | Proximity | William Conroy | Direct-to-video | |
| 2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Middle Number Two | ||
| 2003 | View from the Top | Steve Bench | ||
| 2004 | Jiminy Glick in Lalawood | Himself | Cameo | |
| 2005 | Thank You for Smoking | Jeff Megall | ||
| 2009 | Majesty | Himself | Cameo | |
| The Invention of Lying | Brad Kessler | |||
| 2011 | I Melt with You | Jonathan | Also executive producer | |
| Breakaway | Coach Dan Winters | [106] | ||
| 2012 | Knife Fight | Paul Turner | ||
| 2014 | Sex Tape | Hank Rosenbaum | ||
| The Interview | Himself | Uncredited cameo | ||
| 2016 | Pocket Listing | Frank Hunter | ||
| Monster Trucks | Reece Tenneson | [107] | ||
| 2017 | How to Be a Latin Lover | Rick the Gigolo | ||
| Mune: Guardian of the Moon | Sohone | Voice; English dub | ||
| 2018 | Super Troopers 2 | Guy Le Franc | ||
| 2019 | Holiday in the Wild | Derek Holliston | ||
| 2020 | Madness in the Hills | Himself | Short film; also director | |
| 2023 | Dog Gone | John Marshall | Also executive producer | [108] |
| 2024 | Brats | Himself | Documentary | [109] |
| TBA | The Third Parent | Cap Hollow | Filming | |
| TBA | My New Friend Jim | TBA | Filming | [110] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1980 | A New Kind of Family | Tony Flannagan | 10 episodes | |
| 1980–1981 | ABC Afterschool Special | Charles Elderberry, Jeff Bartlett | Episode: "Schoolboy Father", "A Matter of Time" | |
| 1983 | Thursday's Child | Sam Alden | Television film | |
| 1990–2000 | Saturday Night Live | Host | 3 episodes | |
| 1990 | If the Shoe Fits | Francesco Salvatore | Television film | |
| 1993 | Great Performances | Doctor Cukrowicz | Episode: "Suddenly, Last Summer" | [111] |
| 1994 | The Stand | Nick Andros | 4 episodes | |
| 1995 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "The Bump" | |
| 1996 | On Dangerous Ground | Sean Dillon | Television film | |
| 1997 | Midnight Man | Television film | ||
| 1998 | Outrage | Tom Casey | Television film | |
| Stories from My Childhood | Ivan | Voice; Episode: "Ivan and His Magic Pony" | ||
| 1999 | Atomic Train | John Seger | 2 episodes | |
| 1999–2003, 2006 | The West Wing | Sam Seaborn | 80 episodes | |
| 1999 | Winding Roads | Partygoer | Television film | |
| 2001 | Jane Doe | David Doe | Television film | |
| 2002 | Framed | Det. Mike Santini | Television film | |
| Founding Brothers | James Madison | Documentary; Voice | [112] | |
| The Christmas Shoes | Robert Layton | Television film | ||
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Jack Turner | 13 episodes; also executive producer | |
| 2004 | Dr. Vegas | Billy Grant | 10 episodes; also executive producer | |
| Salem's Lot | Ben Mears | 2 episodes | ||
| Perfect Strangers | Lloyd Rockwell | Television film | ||
| 2005 | The Christmas Blessing | Robert Layton | Television film | |
| Beach Girls | Jack Kilvert | 6 episodes | ||
| 2006 | A Perfect Day | Rob Harlan | Television film | |
| 2006–2010 | Brothers & Sisters | Robert McCallister | 76 episodes | |
| 2007, 2009 | Family Guy | Stanford Cordray, Himself | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 2007 | Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming | Ted Cogan | Television film | |
| 2009 | Too Late to Say Goodbye | Bart Corbin | Television film | |
| 2010–2015, 2020 | Parks and Recreation | Chris Traeger | 77 episodes | |
| 2011 | Young Justice | Captain Marvel | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 2011–2014 | Californication | Eddie Nero | 6 episodes | |
| 2012 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Himself | Season 3 episode 9 | |
| Drew Peterson: Untouchable | Drew Peterson | Television film | ||
| 2013 | Franklin & Bash | Himself | Episode: "Shoot to Kill" | |
| Prosecuting Casey Anthony | Jeff Ashton | Also executive producer; Television film | ||
| Behind the Candelabra | Jack Startz | HBO Television film | ||
| Killing Kennedy | John F. Kennedy | Nat Geo Television film | ||
| 2014 | The Pro | Ben Bertram | Pilot; also executive producer | |
| 2015 | Moonbeam City | Dazzle Novak | Voice; 10 episodes; also producer | |
| You, Me and the Apocalypse | Father Jude Sutton | 8 episodes | ||
| 2015–2016 | The Grinder | Dean Sanderson | 22 episodes; also executive producer | |
| 2015 | Beautiful & Twisted[a] | Ben Novack, Jr. | Also executive producer | [113] |
| The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar | Simba | Voice | [114] | |
| 2016 | Comedy Central Roast | Himself/Roastee | Television special | |
| 2016–2018 | Code Black | Ethan Willis | 29 episodes | |
| 2016–2019 | The Lion Guard[115][116] | Simba | Voice; 23 episodes | |
| 2017 | The Lowe Files | Himself (host) | 9 episodes; also executive producer | |
| The Orville | Darulio | 2 episodes | ||
| 2017 | The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar | Simba | Voice; Television Film | [117] |
| 2018 | The Bad Seed | David Grossman | Also director and executive producer; Television film | |
| 2019 | Wild Bill | Chief Constable Bill Hixon | 6 episodes; also executive producer | |
| 2019–2021 | Mental Samurai | Himself (host) | 19 episodes; also producer | |
| 2020 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Himself (guest host) | 2 episodes | |
| A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote | Sam Seaborn | Recreation of "Hartsfield's Landing" | ||
| 2020–2025 | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Capt. Owen Strand | 72 episodes; also executive producer | |
| 2021 | Attack of the Hollywood Cliches! | Himself (host) | Netflix special; also executive producer | |
| 2022 | The '80s: Top Ten | Himself (host) | 6 episodes; also executive producer | |
| The Pentaverate | Himself | 4 episodes | ||
| 2023 | The Simpsons | Cousin Peter | Voice; Episode: "The Very Hungry Caterpillars" | |
| 2023–2024 | Unstable | Ellis Dragon | 16 episodes; also co-creator and executive producer | [79] |
| 2024–present | The Floor | Himself (host) | Also executive producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Three Sisters | Baron Nikolaj Lvovich Tuzenbach | Anton Chekov | Williamstown Theater Festival, Massachusetts | [118] |
| 2005 | A Few Good Men | Lt. Daniel Kaffee | Aaron Sorkin | Theatre Royal Haymarket, West End | [119] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Turn to You" | Man at dance | The Go Gos video[120] |
| 1985 | "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" | Billy Hicks | John Parr video |
| "Love Theme fromSt. Elmo's Fire" | Billy Hicks | David Foster video |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Fox Hunt | Edison Pettibone | Live action[121] |
Sheridan: "I understand that politically you were a Democrat but now vote for the candidate, not the party. How did you get there?"Lowe: "I'm a registered Independent now. I'll tell you what, there were two things. I grew up, had a family and had children, which will, I think, change who you are on all levels, not just politically. The other part was, I just don't like partisan politics of any stripe anymore. I think both parties have been co-opted by the fringe of each party. I'm a centrist. Look at what happened to Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman gave his life to the Democratic Party. He lost the primary, and if he had listened to his leaders the people of the state would not have been able to elect him. So I think that there is a big place in American politics now for independent thinkers."
