Rob Lowe Wife Young: The Makeup Artist Who Tamed Hollywood’s Wildest Bachelor

Timing is a funny thing in Hollywood. Usually, it's about being in the right room at the right time for a script. But for Sheryl Berkoff and Rob Lowe, timing was the difference between a forgotten blind date and a thirty-year marriage that actually survived the meat grinder of fame.

Most people know Sheryl as the woman standing next to Rob on a red carpet, looking effortlessly cool in her own jewelry line. But the story of rob lowe wife young isn't just about a "supportive spouse." She was a powerhouse in her own right long before she was "Mrs. Lowe," working as a top-tier makeup artist on sets like Glengarry Glen Ross and Frankie and Johnny.

Honestly, their start was kind of a disaster.

The Blind Date That Went Nowhere

Back in 1983, a mutual friend set them up on a blind date. Rob was the quintessential 80s heartthrob, right in the thick of the Brat Pack madness. Sheryl was a working artist, navigating the same circles but with a lot more groundedness.

They went out. They talked. They... didn't click.

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Not even a little bit. In fact, they didn't see each other again for years. Rob has been pretty candid about this lately, admitting that he wasn't exactly "monogamy material" in the early 80s. He was living fast, drinking hard, and basically doing everything you’d expect a 19-year-old movie star to do.

Sheryl, meanwhile, was busy building a career. She wasn't just some girl hanging around trailers; she was the one Gwyneth Paltrow (then a teenager) was "obsessed" with. Gwyneth actually remembers Sheryl doing her mom's makeup and sneaking cigarettes with her behind the scenes. Sheryl had her own life, her own money, and zero interest in being another notch on a young actor’s belt.

Reconnecting on the Set of Bad Influence

Fast forward to 1989. Six years is a lifetime in the movie business. Rob was cast in the psychological thriller Bad Influence, and guess who was hired to do his makeup?

That's when the "rob lowe wife young" narrative actually begins. Something shifted. Rob was staring down the barrel of some pretty dark times—his 1988 scandal was still fresh, and his drinking was reaching a breaking point.

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When they reconnected on that set, the chemistry was undeniable. It wasn't just "the heat," though Rob frequently mentions that chemical spark is vital. It was the fact that Sheryl saw through the movie star BS. She knew who he was when he wasn't performing.

Rob has said many times that Sheryl was the catalyst for his sobriety. He realized that if he wanted a life with a woman like her, he had to get his act together. Alcohol and Sheryl couldn't coexist in the same space. He chose her. He checked into rehab in 1990, and they were married on July 22, 1991.

Why Their Early Years Defied the Odds

Hollywood marriages are usually measured in dog years. If you make it to five, you're a veteran. If you make it to thirty, you're a miracle.

What made them different?

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1. They were friends first. Sounds cliché, but Rob insists that marrying your "best friend" is the only way to survive the ebbs and flows.
2. She had her own identity. Sheryl didn't stop being an artist. While she eventually pivoted from makeup to interior design and then to her successful jewelry brand, Sheryl Lowe Jewelry, she was never just a shadow.
3. The "Healthy Fear" factor. On his podcast, Rob joked about having a "healthy fear" of his wife. Basically, she’s a strong woman who doesn't put up with nonsense. That kind of accountability is rare when you're a famous actor surrounded by "yes" people.

Building a Life Away from the Cameras

By the time they had their sons, Matthew (born 1993) and John Owen (born 1995), the couple had established a sort of fortress in Santa Barbara. They intentionally sought a "normal" life outside the Los Angeles bubble.

Looking back at photos of a young Sheryl Berkoff, you see a woman who looks comfortable in her own skin. She wasn't trying to be a starlet. She was an artist who happened to fall for a guy with a complicated past.

Their longevity isn't because they have a "perfect" marriage. Rob is the first to say there’s no such thing. It’s about forgiveness and choosing which "hill to die on." It’s also about what he calls "staying in the room." When things get hard, you don't bail. You stay.

Lessons from the Lowe-Berkoff Playbook

If you're looking for the secret sauce in the rob lowe wife young story, it's not actually a secret. It's about personal growth.

• Work on yourself before the relationship. Rob’s sobriety was the foundation. You can’t be a good partner if you aren’t a functional human.
• Don't rush the "click." Sometimes the person you're supposed to be with is someone you didn't even like the first time around. People change. Timing matters.
• Keep the "heat" alive. Chemistry is a chemical thing, and while it fluctuates, you have to prioritize it.

The takeaway here is pretty simple: your past doesn't have to dictate your future. Rob Lowe was the poster child for "wild boy craziness," but meeting Sheryl gave him a reason to want something more. She didn't "fix" him—he fixed himself because she was worth the effort.

Next Steps for Your Own Relationship Growth:
To apply the "Lowe-Berkoff" philosophy to your own life, start by identifying the "best friend" aspects of your partnership. Take a week to focus on communication that isn't about logistics (bills, kids, chores) and instead focuses on the shared interests that brought you together in the first place. If you're struggling with "staying in the room" during tough times, consider seeking a neutral third party like a counselor to help navigate the "ebbs" before they become breaking points.