Actor Rob Lowe has revealed the deep emotional impact he experienced when his eldest son, Matthew, left for college. The Unstable star, now 60, reflected on the bittersweet moment during an interview with PEOPLE, describing the experience as one of the most challenging of his life as a father.
“It was brutal,” Lowe recalled, reflecting on the day he, his wife Sheryl, and Matthew flew to Duke University for his freshman year. Lowe admitted that the emotions caught him by surprise, despite being accustomed to major life moments in his successful Hollywood career.
“I was a complete wreck,” he confessed. “I had to wear dark sunglasses on the plane because tears were streaming down my face the entire time. I couldn’t even look at Matthew sitting there with his little book bag; it was just too much. It really triggered something deep inside me.”
While Lowe’s wife, Sheryl, shared in the emotional transition, Lowe noted that he was far more affected by the milestone. “It brought up a lot of feelings,” he said, adding that his sense of loss was profound, as it felt “like the end of this wonderful journey” he had with both Matthew and his younger son, John Owen, now 28.
Lowe’s vulnerability resonated with parents everywhere. He revealed that since sharing his story in his 2014 book Love Life, countless parents have approached him to share their own emotional experiences when their children left for college. “I love when dads come up to me crying, saying, ‘I read your chapter and cried in my car after I dropped my kid off at school.’ It reminds me that we’re all so alike in these moments.”
Despite the initial heartbreak, Lowe eventually came to realize that his relationship with his sons was far from over. “At the time, it felt like the end. But here we are years later, and I’ve learned that they come back. They’re not going anywhere.”
Parenthood, Lowe shared, remains his greatest joy and accomplishment. “Becoming a dad was the best thing that ever happened to me. It still is. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, but I feel really good that I was in a place in my life where I could give my energy to it.”
Lowe’s close bond with his sons also extends into his professional life. He co-created, co-executive produced, and co-writes the Netflix comedy Unstable with John Owen, with whom he shares on-screen father-son dynamics. “The fact that my kid grew up to write a show for me—it’s unbelievable,” Lowe said, proudly praising his son’s talent and growth as an actor. “Johnny’s work in season two is next level.”
His eldest son Matthew, a lawyer and businessman, also remains deeply connected with his father. “Matthew and I have so many business ventures together. We talk multiple times a day, and I’m so proud of what we’re building,” Lowe shared, highlighting Matthew’s work with Eldridge Industries, which owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea Football Club.
Balancing personal and professional time with both sons, Lowe finds fulfillment in his roles as a father, actor, and entrepreneur. “I get the creative show-business connection with Johnny and the business and branding side with Matthew. We’ve always been close, and it’s just amazing how our relationship continues to grow.”
For Lowe, fatherhood remains his proudest achievement—both in his personal life and in the partnerships he’s cultivated with his sons.
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