Ever get that weird feeling of déjà vu when you're flipping through channels and see a guy who's suspiciously handsome, aging in reverse, and possessing a head of hair that seems to defy the laws of physics? You're probably looking at either John Stamos or Rob Lowe. Honestly, the world has spent decades mixing them up.
It happened again recently in Beverly Hills. A tour bus full of people pulled up, the guide pointed, and loudly announced, "And here we have John Stamos!" Only it wasn't Stamos. It was Rob Lowe, who—after a very visible "what the f***" expression—had to walk up to the bus and ask the tourists, "Am I John Stamos?" Naturally, they screamed "No!" once they realized they were staring at the guy from The West Wing and not Uncle Jesse.
This isn't just a funny anecdote. It's basically the foundation of one of the longest-running "rivalries" in Hollywood. Except, it isn't really a rivalry. It’s a decades-long bromance built on a shared experience of being "the pretty guys" who actually turned out to be really good at their jobs.
The Handsome Men's Club is Real (Sorta)
If you’ve seen the Jimmy Kimmel sketches about the "Handsome Men's Club," you know it’s a bit. But for John Stamos and Rob Lowe, the joke is a lifestyle. Back in 2015, the two were actually on the same network (Fox) promoting two different shows: Stamos had Grandfathered and Lowe had The Grinder.
During a press panel, Lowe was asked if they ever bonded over their looks. He leaned into it hard, claiming that as a founding member of the club, he’d been trying to get Stamos in for years but "David Beckham keeps blackballing him."
Stamos, who was apparently hiding in the back of the room or in a nearby restroom, yelled out: "Rob, tell the truth! We've dated for years!"
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That’s the vibe. They aren't competing for the same roles anymore; they’re just two guys who survived the 80s heartthrob machine and came out the other side with their careers—and hairlines—intact.
Two Different Paths to the Same Pedestal
While we lump them together now, their 80s trajectories were pretty different. Rob Lowe was the "Brat Pack" poster boy. He was doing gritty-ish stuff like The Outsiders and St. Elmo's Fire. He was the cool, slightly dangerous guy.
Stamos? He was the king of the sitcom. Full House made him a household name as the Elvis-obsessed, motorcycle-riding uncle. He was accessible. He was the guy you wanted to babysit your kids, whereas 1985-era Rob Lowe was the guy you didn't want your daughter dating.
The Career Pivot
What's actually impressive is how they both pivoted. A lot of 80s stars faded into "where are they now" territory.
- Rob Lowe went from movie star to character actor extraordinaire. His turns in The West Wing and Parks and Recreation (Chris Traeger is arguably his best work) showed he had massive comedic timing.
- John Stamos did the same, taking a dark turn in Nip/Tuck and then finding a whole new generation of fans with Fuller House and his music work with The Beach Boys.
They both realized early on that being "the hot guy" has an expiration date unless you can make people laugh at you. And man, do they let people laugh at them.
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The Next Generation: Trolling as a Love Language
If you want to see the real dynamic between these two, you have to look at Rob Lowe’s son, John Owen Lowe. The kid is a menace on social media, and his favorite target is his dad.
For years, John Owen has been "replacing" his father with John Stamos. On Father's Day? He’ll post a photo of himself with Stamos. For Rob’s 60th birthday? He photoshopped Stamos’s face over Rob’s in a family photo.
It’s reached a point where Stamos even recorded a video for The Drew Barrymore Show pretending to have 23andMe results to prove he was John Owen’s real father. Rob just sits there and laughs.
"He does that to our Christmas cards," Rob once remarked about his son’s obsession with Stamos. "He won't stop."
This kind of "trolling" is the ultimate sign of a secure friendship. You don't let your kids publicly prefer your "rival" unless that rival is actually one of your closest friends.
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Why We Can't Stop Comparing Them
Basically, they represent a specific type of Hollywood longevity. They both struggled with the trappings of early fame—Lowe has been very open about his sobriety journey, and Stamos has talked candidly about his own past struggles with alcohol.
They also both have a weirdly similar "ageless" quality. It's the source of a million memes. Is it the water? Is it the moisturizer? Is it just great genes?
When they appeared on Rob’s podcast, Literally! With Rob Lowe, they spent a good chunk of time talking about Frank Sinatra’s phone book and the Beach Boys. It wasn't two stars "performing." It was two guys who have seen everything Hollywood can throw at a person—the scandals, the cancellations, the comebacks—and decided to just enjoy the ride.
What You Can Learn from the Stamos-Lowe Dynamic
There’s actually some life advice buried in all this celebrity banter. If you're looking at how these two have maintained their "brand" for forty years, a few things stand out:
- Self-Deprecation is King. The moment you take your "image" too seriously, you're toast. Both guys lean into the "handsome" jokes before anyone else can.
- Pivot Before You Have To. They didn't wait until they were "old" to try something new. Lowe moved into TV when it was still considered a step down for movie stars. Stamos took Broadway roles to prove he could actually sing and act.
- Surround Yourself with Truth-Tellers. Having sons who roast you on Instagram or friends who "blackball" you from fake clubs keeps the ego in check.
If you're ever feeling like you're in competition with someone in your field, look at these two. They could have spent forty years trying to out-smoldering each other. Instead, they just became each other's best punchlines.
Next Steps for the Stamos-Lowe Fan:
To see this dynamic in action, check out Rob Lowe's Netflix series Unstable, where he and his son John Owen basically dramatize their real-life roasting sessions. Also, keep an eye on Stamos’s social media—he’s usually about three minutes away from posting a throwback photo that will make you wonder if he’s actually a vampire.