Rob Lowe Reveals ‘Whole Other Level of Parenting’ When It Comes to Adult Children
By Movieguide® Contributor
Actor Rob Lowe shared that he has reached a “whole other level of parenting” now that he’s dad to adult children.
Lowe has been married to makeup artist Sheryl Berkoff since 1991. The couple share two sons, Matthew, 30, and John, 28.
“They finish college and now you’re at a whole other level of parenting,” Lowe laughed. “Like, okay, it’s the real world. Go to work, get a job, what’s that going to look like?”
Apparently, “the real world” looks like Lowe getting to collaborate with his sons. He and John are working together on Netflix’s UNSTABLE. The father and son duo serve as co-creators and executive producers, as well as stars of the show.
“He’s already writing season two,” Lowe said of the show, which was inspired by his relationship with John.
“He loves trolling me on social media. And we decided that people were so interested in it, how can we explore this maybe as a show?” the actor explained. “So we’ve come up with, I think, a really funny take on a benevolent narcissist father in the spotlight, who means very well.”
So, what is it like for the father and son to work together?
“You know what’s really weird, is I forget he’s my son when we’re shooting. Unless we’re doing scenes where we’re playing father and son,” Lowe laughed. “But making the show, what’s amazing for me and was a revelation, was I feel like I’m working with a peer. And he’s also the only partner I could have had making this.”
“There’s nobody else who I could do it with because no one else would understand,” he concluded.
Movieguide® previously reported on Lowe and John’s relationship:
For John Owen, the son of actor Rob Lowe, his father played an instrumental role in his journey to sobriety.\
“When you consider what he went through in his 20s, his meteoric rise and some turbulence, and being in the public eye for decades… To come out a family man, a really, really good father, a really, really strong husband, and just a fun, kind guy to be around, that’s the day-to-day example he sets,” John Owen, 26, told People.
“On the most personal level possible, when I was struggling with addiction, he was always there for me,” John Owen added. “I credit that with being one, if not the main, reason that I’m sober and living a healthy lifestyle.”
Lowe, who is got his start in Hollywood on 1985’s ST. ELMO’S FIRE was no stranger to the party scene.
After 32 years sober, Lowe offered support and advice for his son battling addiction.
“I really knew Johnny was a chip off the old block, as his big thing was, ‘Dad, I’m getting straight A’s at Stanford. How much of a problem could I have?’ That [justification] was my thing,” Lowe confessed.
Their shared experiences allowed Lowe to step in as a loyal father and friend to his son.
“He never gave up on me,” John Owen said. “I have a little over three and a half years [of sobriety] now, but when I took my first-year chip, he and I spoke at a [12-step] meeting in front of 200 people. And it was one of the most profound experiences of my life.”
Lowe’s other son, Matthew, recognized the importance of his father’s involvement.
“The whole family rallied around [and] having someone who has such experience in the realm of sobriety to lead the charge was so invaluable,” Matthew said.
“He does the same thing in everyday life: [Whether it’s] me going off to college, or to law school, he’s always the cheerleader,” he continued. “He’s the first one to do absolutely anything to help you succeed.”