Profiles Of Addiction Recovery | Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe is a famous actor known for his various film and television roles. Throughout his successful career, Lowe has received countless accolades. However, Lowe struggled with alcohol abuse early in his life, which ultimately required substance abuse treatment.

Sex & Binge Drinking

Lowe has a long history of substance abuse. On set of The Outsiders, Lowe stated drugs were available as frequently as food craft services.

During this time, Lowe began drinking heavily. This eventually led to a sex tape that was released of Lowe having sex with much younger women in Atlanta, Georgia. After the sex tape was leaked, Lowe participated in more binge drinking and severe alcohol use.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Lowe considers to have “hit rock bottom” when his mother called him on May 10, 1990, to inform him that his grandfather was in the hospital in critical condition from a heart attack.

Lowe’s mother left messages on his answering machine, but Lowe ignored the messages, telling Variety that his thought process in the moment was simply to “grab a bottle of tequila” in order to be able to speak to his mom on the phone.

Rob Lowe’s Recovery Efforts

After receiving the call from his mother about his grandfather’s medical condition, reality set in for Lowe and he stopped drinking. In fact, Lowe attended a treatment center for his alcohol addiction.

Before this, however, a friend gave him a business card to a rehab center. Lowe carried this card with him for a year before enrolling in an addiction treatment program.

Thankfully, Lowe has maintained years of sobriety and is alcohol free. He works with adolescents and young adults to provide drug addiction recovery resources.

About Rob Lowe

Actor Rob Lowe was born on March 17, 1964, in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

Lowe became a young actor in the 1970s, participating in local productions. However, his “big break” as a movie star heartthrob and teen idol came with his theatrical debut. Lowe was cast in the 1983 film The Outsiders alongside co-stars Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise.

Lowe and Estevez were known as the “Brat Pack” due to the young actors’ overlapping filmography including St. Elmo’s Fire, which also starred actress Demi Moore. 

The West Wing

In the 1990s, Lowe’s career continued as he was cast in a major role on the television show The West Wing in which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award at the 2001 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California.

In 1991, Lowe married wife Sheryl Berkoff. Their two sons John Owen and Matthew Edward were born in 1995 and 1993, respectively.

The 2000s & Beyond 

The early 2000s, Lowe received a part alongside actress Sally Field on the ABC show Brothers & Sisters. Lowe continued his hot streak with television shows in the 2010s when he joined Parks and Recreation starring comedian and actress Amy Poehler.

In 2011, Lowe released a memoir and in 2015 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the 2020s, Lowe worked on the show 911: Lone Star and also began a partnership with Netflix to produce several films.

Recovery Is Possible

If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, take Rob Lowe as an example that recovery is possible with professional treatment and well-rounded support. 

To learn how we make recovery possible for both individuals and families, please contact us today.