Rob Lowe Is Relishing Life at 60: How the Midwest Kid Went from Brat Packer to Sober Family Man with 'No Regrets' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Rob Lowesettles into a weatherworn rocking chair with a view of the Pacific and lights up a Partagás cigar. Moments later the coastal vista — a backdrop of Lowe’s life since he moved to Southern California from Dayton at age 11 — jogs a memory of when his kidsMatthew, 30, andJohn Owen, 28, were in elementary school.

“I was doingWest Wing,and I’d volunteered to be ‘parent delegate’ on the school whale-watching trip — but we were shooting late, and I was literally missing the boat,” Lowe tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story that celebrates the most transformative moments in the Hollywood icon’s life. He recalls “flooring it” up the Pacific Coast Highway before leaping into the sea when he spotted the boat in the distance. “I just remember them going, ‘There’s a man swimming . . .’ and Matthew going, ‘I think that’smy dad.’ I swam with my sunglasses in my teeth.”

Rob Lowe.Jenny Gage + Tom Betteron

Jenny Gage + Tom Betteron

Rob Lowe in Dayton, Ohio in 1975.Courtesy Rob Lowe

Courtesy Rob Lowe

Once the consummate Hollywood It Boy who starred in 1983’sThe Outsidersand 1985’sSt. Elmo’s Firewith a who’s who of up-and-comers includingDemi Moore,Emilio EstevezandAndrew McCarthy, Lowe navigated fast-lane celebrity and addiction. A life-changing moment came in the form of an epiphany soon after he met his now-wife Sheryl, who was his makeup artist on the 1990 thrillerBad Influence:“If I couldn’t make it work with her, I couldn’t make it work with anybody,” he says.

After a series of incremental “wake-up calls,” Lowewent to rehabin 1990 — and never looked back. “I was so ready,” he says.

Rob Lowe and family.Courtesy Rob Lowe

Taking stock of the lows, hard-won highs and transformative moments that have changed him, the actor allows that both his life and career have exceeded his wildest dreams. “I mean, the notion of having such a long, great marriage, being sober 34 years, having two healthy, productive, amazing boys, going into my sixth decade, working at this level, I know how rare that is,” he says with earnest humility. “If I’d have gotten the wishes that I had wished for myself when I was younger, I would’ve sold myself short. I’m super grateful.”

What’s more, even in the face of life’s unforeseen and myriad challenges, Lowe wouldn’t change a thing. He says: “No regrets.”

For more of Lowe’s exclusive interview, please pick up this week’s cover, on newsstands Friday.

source: people.com