The actor teamed up with acclaimed director Wally Pfister for an ad campaign that he hopes will change people’s lives
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NEED TO KNOW
- Rob Lowe is busier than ever with multiple projects, including a major Netflix announcement and a Christmas movie
- He stars in a new ad campaign addressing debt stigma, inspired by real stories and personal conversations with his sons
- Lowe is preparing for his son Matthew’s wedding and is already brainstorming fun alternatives to being called “grandpa”
Rob Lowe may be 62, but the actor and dad of two has zero interest in quitting his career to play golf.
“I like to work,” he says of literally being busier than ever. “I like the opportunities.”
And there are plenty of them. Lowe, whose career kicked off when he starred in the 1983 movie The Outsiders, filmed four independent movies last year and is about to announce a major new Netflix project.
“I’m very excited about [it],” he says. “I wish I could talk about it, but it’s a very big project.”
He also has a Christmas movie on the way, is working on his third book and continues to host his podcast, Literally! with Rob Lowe, now in its seventh year. Then there’s The Floor, the hit Fox game show Lowe hosts and produces, which returns in September.
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“One of the things that’s so satisfying for my career is that it could be anything,” he says of how varied his projects are, noting that he was always lucky to be able to switch between dramas and comedies. “Not everyone gets to do that. There are ‘lists,’ and sometimes you don’t get to be on multiple ones.”
He’s also proud of his latest work: Lowe stars in a new ad campaign for Accredited Debt Relief, alongside renowned director Wally Pfister. He says doing the campaign was a chance to spotlight a financial struggle facing millions of Americans, while helping remove some of the shame surrounding debt.
“Americans are awash in debt. People are looking for ways out,” he says. The campaign tells real stories of Americans struggling financially, showing how they finally got out of the hole. “I love getting involved with companies that are authentic to real people.”
He adds, “It’s time to take the stigma away from people in debt by highlighting real people, and how they’ve managed to right the ship.”
The father to Matthew, 33, and Johnny, 30, says the subject also feels personal, and talking about these issues with a wider audience is “a natural step” from conversations he’s already been having with his own kids.
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“I’m so lucky that they’re out of the house with real jobs, leading their own lives,” he says of the boys being established in their careers. (Matthew works in finance, and Johnny is an actor and producer.)
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And he says he might be having these conversations with the next generation of Lowes sooner than later. “Matthew is engaged and getting married in October,” he says. “And then I’m going to be pressuring them for grandchildren.”
Lowe says he can’t wait for that next stage in life — but don’t call him grandpa. “I don’t need to get ahead of myself, but I’m very focused on not being called Grandpa,” he says. “But what’s the appropriate, like, on-brand name?”
He says there’s a running list (Papa Rob is on there) but while he waits for grandkids, he’ll just keep working and attempt to relax. “After this I’m going to get my dogs and go on a very long walk,” he says of taking a little break from hustling. “And then I’ll probably go work on my book.”
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