Chad Lowe is an American actor, director and producer who has built a long career in Hollywood across television, film and theater
While he is often recognized as the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe, Chad Lowe has created a successful career of his own.
He is especially known for his Emmy-winning performance in the television drama Life Goes On and for later roles in shows such as 24, ER and Pretty Little Liars.
Interest in Chad Lowe has increased again as people search for “Who is Chad Lowe?” and look for information about his family and daughters.
He has also directed episodes of several television programs and directed the feature film Beautiful Ohio.
Beyond his professional life, Chad Lowe is married to film producer Kim Painter. The couple have three daughters.
His family has generally maintained a private life away from the constant attention that often surrounds Hollywood families.
Here is a closer look at Chad Lowe, his career, his family and why his name is receiving renewed attention.
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Table of Contents
Who Is Chad Lowe?
Chad Lowe is an American actor, director and producer. His birth name is Charles Conrad Lowe and he was born on January 15, 1968, in Dayton, Ohio.1
He is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe. Both brothers eventually became well-known figures in Hollywood, although Chad developed a career that was distinct from his brother’s.
According to TV Guide, Lowe made his screen acting debut in the television movie Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac in 1984. He later appeared in a number of television movies and series before taking on some of his most important roles.
One of the defining performances of his career came in the television series Life Goes On. Lowe played Jesse McKenna, a young man living with HIV.
His performance received widespread recognition and earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1993. The Television Academy confirms his Emmy win for the role.
The role was important not only because of the award but also because it demonstrated Lowe’s ability to handle emotionally difficult material. His work on Life Goes On remains one of the performances most closely associated with his name.
Lowe later appeared in a wide variety of projects. His film credits include Unfaithful, Highway to Hell, Beautiful Ohio, Floating, Driven and Entourage.
He also appeared in popular television programs including ER, 24, Popular and Pretty Little Liars. For younger viewers, Chad Lowe may be best known for playing Byron Montgomery on Pretty Little Liars.
The series introduced him to another generation of television audiences and helped keep him familiar to viewers long after his breakthrough in Life Goes On.
This is a beautiful, haunting, song my next door neighbor and friend @mrjondavid wrote about the devastating Palisades fires that destroyed our entire community. Incredibly emotional. https://t.co/I3g86lb2jI
— Chad Lowe (@ichadlowe) January 7, 2026
Why Is Chad Lowe Trending in Searches?
There are several reasons people may be searching for Chad Lowe today.
First, his name remains recognizable because of his long career. People who remember Life Goes On, 24, ER or Pretty Little Liars may search for information about him after seeing his name again.
Second, searches for “Who is Chad Lowe?” often come from people who know the Lowe family name but want to understand the connection between Chad Lowe and Rob Lowe.
Third, his family has recently been receiving attention. Searches about his daughters have increased following the tragic death of Fiona Lowe in September 2026.
His oldest daughter Mabel has also attracted attention because of her own developing career in entertainment. That has created another reason for people to search for information about Chad Lowe as her father.
The current interest therefore combines several different parts of his story: his long acting career, his connection to Rob Lowe, his marriage to Kim Painter and his role as a father.
Stats Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Charles Conrad Lowe |
| Known professionally as | Chad Lowe |
| Date of birth | January 15, 1968 |
| Birthplace | Dayton, Ohio, United States |
| Age | 58 in 2026 |
| Profession | Actor, director and producer |
| Best known for | Life Goes On, Pretty Little Liars, Unfaithful, 24 |
| Major award | Primetime Emmy Award |
| Emmy-winning role | Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On |
| Brother | Rob Lowe |
| Wife | Kim Painter |
| Marriage | 2010 |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Directorial work | Beautiful Ohio and television episodes |
| First screen appearance | Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac |
| Former spouse | Hilary Swank |
Chad Lowe’s Acting Career
Chad Lowe began acting at a relatively young age and gradually established himself through television and film. His early career included appearances in television movies and supporting roles.2
One of his early notable projects was Oxford Blues, in which he appeared alongside his brother Rob Lowe. His breakthrough came with Life Goes On.
The series ran from 1989 to 1993 and gave Chad Lowe the opportunity to play a complex dramatic character. His performance as Jesse McKenna became the biggest award-winning role of his acting career.
After Life Goes On, Lowe continued to work steadily in television. He appeared in shows such as ER and 24.
He also took on the role of John Denver in the television film Take Me Home: The John Denver Story.
His film career includes a number of different genres. He appeared alongside Richard Gere and Diane Lane in the 2002 drama Unfaithful.
He also worked on independent films and projects that allowed him to explore roles outside mainstream television.
Lowe later became familiar to fans of Pretty Little Liars. He played Byron Montgomery, the father of Aria Montgomery, one of the show’s main characters.
His career is notable because he has not remained limited to acting. He has also developed experience as a director and producer.
Chad Lowe as a Director
Acting is only one part of Chad Lowe’s career. Lowe moved behind the camera and directed television episodes as well as the feature film Beautiful Ohio.
The 2006 movie marked an important step in his development as a filmmaker. TV Guide notes that Lowe won a Special Jury Prize for Debut Director at the Sarasota Film Festival for Beautiful Ohio in 2007.
He has also directed episodes of television series including American Housewife, Notorious and Stitchers. His IMDb profile lists numerous directing credits in addition to his acting work.
This part of his career is sometimes overlooked because most public recognition around Lowe focuses on his acting. However, directing has been an important part of his professional life.
Chad Lowe and His Famous Family Connection
One of the most common facts people discover when searching for Chad Lowe is his connection to Rob Lowe.
Rob Lowe is Chad’s older brother and is also a major Hollywood actor. The two brothers grew up in the same family and both eventually entered the entertainment industry.
Having a famous sibling has naturally made the Lowe family a subject of public interest. However, Chad has built his own résumé rather than simply relying on his family connection.
His Emmy win for Life Goes On, his film appearances and his work as a director are all part of his individual career. The Lowe family has also expanded into another generation of entertainment.
Chad’s daughter Mabel has recently attracted attention herself after appearing on screen. This has led to more searches about Chad Lowe’s children and family background.
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Who Is Chad Lowe’s Wife?
Chad Lowe is married to Kim Painter, a film producer.3
The couple began dating in 2007 and married on August 28, 2010. They have three daughters together.
People often remember Chad Lowe’s previous marriage to actress Hilary Swank. Lowe and Swank were married from 1997 until their divorce was finalized in 2007.
His marriage to Kim Painter has lasted for more than a decade and the couple have built a family away from much of the Hollywood spotlight. According to IMDb’s biographical information, Painter and Lowe have three children together.
Who Are Chad Lowe’s Daughters?
Chad Lowe and Kim Painter have three daughters: Mabel, Fiona and Nixie Barbara. Their daughters have become an important part of the renewed public interest in Chad Lowe.
Mabel Lowe
Mabel Painter Lowe is Chad Lowe’s oldest daughter. She was born in 2009 and has recently received attention of her own.
Mabel has shown an interest in acting and has appeared on screen. A recent profile from the South China Morning Post reported that the 17-year-old made her screen debut in 9-1-1: Nashville.
Her growing presence in entertainment has naturally led people to search for her famous father and ask about Chad Lowe’s family. Mabel also became the subject of recent public attention following the death of her younger sister Fiona.
Fiona Lowe
Fiona was Chad Lowe and Kim Painter’s second daughter. She was born in 2012. In September 2026, the Lowe family announced Fiona’s death at the age of 13.
The family described her as loving, smart and creative and said that she loved to dance. They also asked for privacy as they dealt with the loss.
The news has understandably caused a major increase in searches related to Chad Lowe’s children and family.
Because this is a very recent and painful event, it is important to discuss Fiona respectfully rather than treat the tragedy as entertainment. The family has asked for privacy.
Nixie Barbara Lowe
Nixie Barbara is Chad Lowe and Kim Painter’s youngest daughter. She was born in 2016.
Like her sisters, Nixie has largely grown up away from the intense media attention that surrounds many celebrity families.
The Lowe family has generally kept their children’s private lives protected while occasionally sharing family moments with the public.
Chad Lowe’s Family Faced Another Major Loss Before 2026
The Lowe family experienced another major hardship in early 2025 when their Pacific Palisades home was destroyed in the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.
Chad Lowe later spoke about taking his daughters back to see what remained of their childhood home. He praised their resilience during the difficult experience.
That event became part of the family’s recent story and makes the loss of Fiona even more painful for those following the family.
Recent reports have emphasized how important his role as a father has been to Lowe.
In a 2024 podcast appearance, he described being a father to daughters as an incredible privilege and discussed how raising girls changed the way he viewed the world.
Chad Lowe’s Most Famous Roles
Chad Lowe has worked across television and film for more than four decades. Some of his best-known roles and projects include:
- Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On – the performance that earned him a Primetime Emmy.
- Byron Montgomery in Pretty Little Liars – one of his best-known later television roles.
- Bill Stone in Unfaithful – a supporting role in the 2002 film.
- Reed Pollock in 24 – another notable television appearance.
- Dr. George Henry in ER – part of his extensive television résumé.
- John Denver in Take Me Home: The John Denver Story – a television biographical role.
- Director of Beautiful Ohio – an important project in his career behind the camera.
The Los Angeles Theatre Works biography of Lowe also lists his work in theater, including Off-Broadway productions such as The Exonerated and Burning Blue.
What Is Chad Lowe Doing Now?
Chad Lowe continues to be associated with acting and directing.
His career has evolved over the years from television movies and dramatic series to film roles and directing work.
In 2026, however, much of the public attention surrounding him is connected to his family.
The tragic death of his daughter Fiona has understandably shifted attention away from his professional work.
His family has asked for privacy while grieving, making it important to separate legitimate public-interest information from unnecessary speculation.
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FAQ’s
Who is Chad Lowe?
Chad Lowe is an American actor, director and producer. He is best known for his Emmy-winning role as Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On and for later roles in Pretty Little Liars, 24 and other television and film projects.
How old is Chad Lowe?
Chad Lowe was born on January 15, 1968. He is 58 years old in 2026.
Is Chad Lowe Rob Lowe’s brother?
Yes. Chad Lowe is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe.
Who is Chad Lowe married to?
Chad Lowe is married to Kim Painter. They married in 2010 and have three daughters together.
How many children does Chad Lowe have?
Chad Lowe has three daughters with his wife Kim Painter: Mabel, Fiona and Nixie Barbara.
Who is Chad Lowe’s oldest daughter?
Mabel Painter Lowe is Chad Lowe’s oldest daughter. Born in 2009, she has recently attracted attention for beginning her own career in acting.
What happened to Chad Lowe’s daughter Fiona?
Chad Lowe’s daughter Fiona died at the age of 13 in September 2026. The family announced her death and asked for privacy. Recent reporting from the Los Angeles Times and PEOPLE has provided additional information about the circumstances of her death.
Conclusion
Chad Lowe is much more than Rob Lowe’s younger brother. He is an accomplished actor, director and producer whose Hollywood career began in the 1980s and has continued for decades.
His Emmy-winning performance in Life Goes On remains a major achievement and helped establish him as a respected dramatic actor.
At the center of that story is a veteran Hollywood performer who has spent decades working in front of and behind the camera while also building a private family life.
As interest in Chad Lowe continues, his career and family remain the two main parts of the story.
His professional legacy is defined by memorable television performances and directing work, while his current public story is also shaped by his role as a father and the difficult period his family is going through in 2026.
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