Chad Lowe has built a long career across television, film and directing, moving naturally from teenage acting roles into more mature dramatic work and behind-the-camera projects. Best known for his Emmy-winning performance as Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On, he has also appeared in Melrose Place, 24, Unfaithful and Pretty Little Liars. Born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1968, Lowe is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe and has remained active in the entertainment industry for more than four decades.
Chad Lowe Quick Bio
| Category | Chad Lowe – Full Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Davis Lowe II |
| Known As | Chad Lowe |
| Height | 5 ft 8½ in (1.74 m) |
| Date of Birth | January 15, 1968 |
| Age | 58 years old (2026) |
| Birthplace | Dayton, Ohio, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Director and Producer |
| Years Active | 1980s–present |
| Father | Charles Davis Lowe, a trial lawyer |
| Mother | Barbara Lynn Hepler, a school teacher |
| Brother | Rob Lowe, actor |
| Other Family | Half-brothers Micah Dyer and Justin W. Lowe |
| Education | Oakwood Junior High School; Santa Monica High School |
| Early Career | Began acting professionally as a teenager in the 1980s |
| First Television Work | Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac and Spencer |
| Early Film Appearance | Oxford Blues (1984) |
| Breakthrough Role | Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On |
| Major TV Credits | Life Goes On, Melrose Place, ER, 24, Pretty Little Liars, Supergirl, 9-1-1: Lone Star |
| Notable Film Credits | Oxford Blues, Silence of the Heart, Nobody’s Perfect, Highway to Hell, Unfaithful, Beautiful Ohio, California Scheming, Entourage |
| Emmy Award | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
| Emmy Year | 1993 |
| Directorial Debut | The Audition (2000 short film) |
| Feature Directing Debut | Beautiful Ohio (2006) |
| Directing Credits | Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Pretty Little Liars, Rizzoli & Isles, Supergirl, The Flash, 9-1-1: Lone Star and others |
| Former Wife | Hilary Swank |
| Marriage to Hilary Swank | 1997–2007 |
| Current Wife | Kim Painter |
| Marriage to Kim Painter | August 28, 2010–present |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Daughters | Mabel Painter Lowe, Fiona Hepler Lowe and Nixie Barbara Lowe |
| Career Highlight | Emmy-winning dramatic performance in Life Goes On |
| Known For | Acting, television drama and directing |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $4 million |
| Main Sources of Income | Acting, television directing and producing |
| Entertainment Career | More than four decades |
| Career Development | Transitioned from teenage acting to established television roles and directing |
| Chad Lowe & Rob Lowe | Brothers who both pursued careers in Hollywood |
| Personal Life | Married to Kim Painter since 2010; generally keeps much of his family life private |
| Notable Career Milestone | Winning an Emmy for his portrayal of Jesse McKenna |
| Current Professional Identity | Actor and director with extensive television experience |
| Net Worth Note | The $4 million figure is an estimate, not a publicly verified financial statement. |
Chad Lowe Images
A Timeline Chad Lowe
| Year | Career & Life Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Born Charles Davis Lowe II on January 15 in Dayton, Ohio. |
| 1984 | Began his professional acting career as a teenager. |
| 1984–1985 | Played the title role in the television series Spencer. |
| 1980s | Appeared in early projects including Oxford Blues and Silence of the Heart. |
| 1989–1993 | Played Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On. |
| 1993 | Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Life Goes On. |
| 1997 | Married actress Hilary Swank. |
| 2000 | Portrayed John Denver in Take Me Home: The John Denver Story. |
| 2002 | Appeared in the film Unfaithful alongside Richard Gere and Diane Lane. |
| 2006 | Made his feature directorial debut with Beautiful Ohio. |
| 2007 | Received the Sarasota Film Festival Special Jury Prize for Debut Director for Beautiful Ohio. |
| 2007 | His divorce from Hilary Swank was finalized. |
| 2009 | Welcomed daughter Mabel Painter Lowe with Kim Painter. |
| 2010 | Married Kim Painter. |
| 2012 | Welcomed daughter Fiona Hepler Lowe. |
| 2015 | Continued acting and directing while appearing at numerous Hollywood events with his family. |
| 2016 | Welcomed daughter Nixie Barbara Lowe. |
| 2021 | Received a Garden State Film Festival Actor Award for Best Ensemble for 7 Days to Vegas. |
| 2022 | Appeared alongside brother Rob Lowe in 9-1-1: Lone Star. |
| 2025 | Continued television work, including involvement with 9-1-1: Nashville. |
| 2026 | Remains active as an actor, director and producer. |
Chad Lowe Family
| Family Member | Name | Relationship / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Father | Charles Davis Lowe | Chad’s father; worked as a trial lawyer |
| Mother | Barbara Lynn Hepler Lowe | Chad’s mother; worked as a teacher and writer |
| Brother | Rob Lowe | Younger/older? Older brother; well-known American actor |
| Half-Brother | Justin Lowe | Chad’s maternal half-brother |
| Half-Brother | Micah Dyer | Chad’s maternal half-brother |
| Former Wife | Hilary Swank | Actress; married Chad from 1997 to 2007 |
| Wife | Kim Painter | Married Chad in 2010 |
| Daughter | Mabel Painter Lowe | Daughter of Chad Lowe and Kim Painter |
| Daughter | Fiona Hepler Lowe | Daughter of Chad Lowe and Kim Painter |
| Daughter | Nixie Barbara Lowe | Daughter of Chad Lowe and Kim Painter |
| Family Background | Lowe Family | Family with strong connections to the American entertainment industry |
Chad Lowe Awards & Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Project | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Special | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Life Goes On | Won |
| 1993 | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Life Goes On | Won |
| 2007 | Sarasota Film Festival | Special Jury Prize – Debut Director | Beautiful Ohio | Won |
| 2021 | Garden State Film Festival | Best Ensemble – Feature | 7 Days to Vegas | Won |
Chad Lowe Dress & Collection
| Style Category | Documented/Public Appearance |
|---|---|
| Formal Suits | Frequently wears dark suits for award ceremonies and charity events |
| Blazers | Regularly appears in tailored blazers with shirts |
| Casual Jackets | Has been photographed in leather and denim-style jackets |
| Shirts | Often wears white or dark shirts at public events |
| Jeans | Frequently incorporated into more relaxed premiere looks |
| Signature Style | Classic, understated and occasion-appropriate |
| Designer Collection | No verified personal designer collection publicly documented |
Chad Lowe Social Media
| Platform | Account | Status |
|---|---|---|
| @ichadlowe | Public account | |
| X / Twitter | @ichadlowe | Account associated with Chad Lowe |
| No reliably verified personal account found | Not confirmed |
