Rob Lowe has a face that doesn't age, but his life has changed plenty. You probably know the basics: the Brat Pack years, the West Wing comeback, and the literal-ly iconic Chris Traeger. But if you look at Rob Lowe and family, you’ll see something that shouldn’t technically exist in Hollywood.
A thirty-four-year marriage. Two sons who aren't just "nepotism babies" but actually like their dad. And a level of sobriety that basically serves as the family's bedrock.
It’s easy to dismiss them as just another polished celebrity unit. You shouldn't. Behind the Instagram filters and the Netflix shows is a story of a guy who almost lost it all to the 80s and a woman who refused to let him.
The Sheryl Berkoff Effect: More Than a "Wife"
Most people think Rob and Sheryl met on a movie set and lived happily ever after. Kinda, but not really. They actually met on a blind date in 1983. It went nowhere. Fast forward seven years, and they're on the set of Bad Influence. She’s a makeup artist; he’s a star struggling with a massive alcohol problem and a reputation that was, let's say, complicated.
Sheryl wasn't just a partner. She was a catalyst. Honestly, Rob has said multiple times that he wouldn’t be sober—or even alive—without her influence. She didn't "fix" him (you can't fix an addict), but she was the reason he wanted to be fixed. They got married in July 1991.
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From Makeup to Jewelry Mogul
Sheryl isn't just "Mrs. Lowe." She built a massive jewelry brand, Sheryl Lowe Jewelry, that’s worn by people like Oprah and Gwenyth Paltrow. It’s a real business. While Rob was filming 9-1-1: Lone Star, Sheryl was busy scaling a company that’s sold at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. They have this "work-hard" ethic that they clearly passed down to their kids.
The Sons: Matthew and John Owen Lowe
Raising kids in Santa Barbara instead of the middle of Hollywood was a tactical move. Rob and Sheryl basically pulled their boys out of the L.A. bubble early on. It worked.
- Matthew Edward Lowe: The older brother. He didn't take the acting bait. Instead, he went to Duke University, got a law degree from Loyola Marymount, and now works in venture capital. He’s the "business" side of the family. In late 2025, Matthew got engaged, which has Rob spiraling into "Grandpa" mode (though he refuses to be called Grandpa—more on that in a second).
- John Owen Lowe: The younger brother. He’s the one you see on screen with Rob in the Netflix series Unstable. He’s a Stanford grad who tried to avoid the family business but eventually realized he was actually good at writing and acting.
John Owen is also famously the family's chief "troller." If you follow them on social media, you know John Owen spends 90% of his time making fun of his father's thirst traps and vanity. It's refreshing. It makes the Rob Lowe and family dynamic feel real rather than curated.
Shared Sobriety and the "Five-Year Chip"
This is the part that isn't talked about enough in the gossip columns. Rob has been sober for over 35 years now. That’s a lifetime in Hollywood years. But the connection goes deeper.
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John Owen also struggled with addiction.
A few years ago, Rob actually presented John Owen with his five-year sobriety chip on The Drew Barrymore Show. It was a heavy moment. It shows that the "perfect" Lowe family faces the same generational struggles as everyone else. They just handle it with a lot of "rigorous honesty," a phrase Rob uses a lot.
Why the "Grandpa" Label is a Problem
As we head into 2026, the biggest "drama" in the Lowe household is Matthew’s upcoming wedding and the prospect of grandkids. Rob is obsessed. He’s already "pressuring" Matthew for a baby, but he has one condition: do not call him Grandpa.
He told Jimmy Kimmel he’s leaning toward "Gwee Gwee" or "Big Kahuna." He’s 61, but he’s still Rob Lowe. The ego is still there, even if it’s wrapped in a dad-joke exterior.
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Actionable Insights for the Rest of Us
You don't need a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to take something away from how this family operates.
- Prioritize the "Casting": Rob always says the secret to his marriage was "casting" his best friend. If you don't like the person you're with during the "boring" times, the relationship won't survive the hard times.
- The Power of Proximity: Rob moved his kids away from L.A. to give them a shot at a normal life. If your environment is toxic for your family, change the environment.
- Vulnerability as a Bond: Being open about sobriety didn't weaken the family; it became their strongest connection point.
The Rob Lowe and family story isn't about being perfect. It’s about a guy who was a mess in the 80s and spent the next four decades making sure his wife and kids didn't have to deal with that version of him. It's a long game. And in 2026, it looks like he's winning.
Next Steps for Your Own Family Growth:
Identify one "generational habit" in your family that you want to change. Whether it's how you handle stress or how you talk about success, take a page from the Lowe playbook and start with "rigorous honesty" today. You don't need to be a movie star to lead your family well.