Chad Lowe biography covering his age, Emmy-winning acting career, directing work, wife Kim Painter, children, brother Rob Lowe, former marriage to Hilary Swank and net worth.
The Chad Lowe biography spans more than four decades in American television and film. Born Charles Davis Lowe II, he first gained attention as a young actor before winning an Emmy for Life Goes On. He later built a second career behind the camera, directing episodes of major television series including Pretty Little Liars, 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Lowe is also the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe and was previously married to actress Hilary Swank. He has been married to producer Kim Painter since 2010. As of 2026, his professional focus includes directing and executive producing 9-1-1: Nashville, while his family has also faced profound personal loss.
Chad Lowe Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Davis Lowe II |
| Known As | Chad Lowe |
| Date of Birth | January 15, 1968 |
| Age | 58 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Dayton, Ohio, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, director and producer |
| Brother | Rob Lowe |
| Wife | Kim Painter |
| Former Wife | Hilary Swank |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, 1993 |
| Known For | Life Goes On, Pretty Little Liars, television directing |
| Current Work | Director and executive producer on 9-1-1: Nashville |
Early Life and Family
Chad Lowe was born on January 15, 1968, in Dayton, Ohio. His mother, Barbara Lynn Hepler, was a teacher, while his father, Charles Davis Lowe, worked as a trial lawyer.
He is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe, who would become one of Hollywood’s best-known young stars during the 1980s.
Their parents divorced while the brothers were young. Chad spent parts of his childhood in Ohio and later moved with his family to Southern California.
The move placed both brothers close to the entertainment industry. They grew up around several other young people who later became successful actors, including Charlie Sheen.
Chad attended Santa Monica High School and decided to pursue acting rather than attend college.
Although Rob achieved major fame first, Chad gradually established a career of his own rather than relying solely on his brother’s name.
Beginning His Acting Career
Lowe started working professionally during the 1980s.
One of his early appearances came in Oxford Blues in 1984, a film starring Rob Lowe. That same year, Chad took a more substantial role opposite Charlie Sheen in the television drama Silence of the Heart.
He continued working in television through projects such as Spencer and other made-for-TV productions.
Unlike his brother, whose early career was closely connected to major theatrical movies and the group later called the Brat Pack, Chad’s career developed largely through television.
That route eventually led to the role that brought him his most important acting award.
Life Goes On and Emmy Award
Lowe joined the ABC drama Life Goes On as Jesse McKenna.
His character was a young man living with HIV, and the storyline explored his relationship with Becca Thatcher, played by Kellie Martin.
At a time when HIV and AIDS were still surrounded by widespread fear and misunderstanding, the role required Lowe to handle difficult material involving illness, relationships and discrimination.
His performance received major critical recognition.
In 1993, Lowe won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Jesse.
The award remains one of the defining achievements of his acting career.
Winning an Emmy did not immediately turn Lowe into a conventional Hollywood leading man. Instead, he continued building a long career through television films, recurring characters and guest roles.
Television and Movie Career
After Life Goes On, Lowe appeared in numerous television programmes.
His credits included Melrose Place, ER, Touched by an Angel, The X-Files, CSI: Miami and Without a Trace.
He also had a recurring role on 24, playing Reed Pollock during the sixth season of the action series.
In film, Lowe appeared alongside Richard Gere and Diane Lane in the 2002 drama Unfaithful.
He also portrayed singer-songwriter John Denver in the 2000 television film Take Me Home: The John Denver Story.
Rather than concentrating solely on becoming a movie star, Lowe built the type of working career that allowed him to move between network dramas, television movies and feature films.
Eventually, however, directing became increasingly important.
Transition From Actor to Director
Lowe began directing around the beginning of the 2000s.
The move offered him another way to work in television while using the experience he had accumulated as an actor.
His directing credits expanded steadily.
He directed episodes of series including Without a Trace, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Bones, Brothers & Sisters, The Grinder, American Housewife and other network programmes.
Directing eventually became as significant to Lowe’s professional identity as acting.
He also directed the 2006 feature film Beautiful Ohio, based on a story by Ethan Canin. The project starred William Hurt, Rita Wilson and Julianna Margulies.
Lowe had spent several years developing the film before finally bringing it to the screen.
Pretty Little Liars
A new generation of television viewers became familiar with Lowe through Pretty Little Liars.
He played Byron Montgomery, the father of Aria Montgomery, portrayed by Lucy Hale.
Lowe appeared repeatedly throughout the series, which ran from 2010 to 2017.
His involvement extended beyond acting.
He also directed episodes of Pretty Little Liars, making the series an important example of the dual career he had developed in front of and behind the camera.
By that stage, directing had become a major part of his work, and he increasingly moved toward episodic television production.
Working on the 9-1-1 Franchise
Lowe later became closely involved with the 9-1-1 television franchise.
He directed episodes of the original 9-1-1 between 2019 and 2024.
He also directed several episodes of 9-1-1: Lone Star, which starred his brother Rob Lowe as firefighter Owen Strand.
That collaboration created an unusual family connection. Chad was directing a series in which his older brother was the lead actor.
Chad also appeared on 9-1-1: Lone Star, allowing the brothers to act together on the programme.
When the franchise expanded again with 9-1-1: Nashville, Chad took on an even larger behind-the-scenes role.
Chad Lowe’s Career in 2026
As of 2026, Lowe remains active as a television director and producer.
He has directed multiple episodes of 9-1-1: Nashville, which began in 2025.
He also serves as an executive producer on the series.
The position demonstrates how much his career has evolved. Lowe began as a teenage actor, became an Emmy-winning dramatic performer and later developed into a television director trusted with major network productions.
His work on 9-1-1: Nashville continued through 2026, making directing and producing the clearest current focus of his entertainment career.
Rob Lowe and Chad Lowe
Rob Lowe is Chad’s older brother.
The two followed different paths despite entering Hollywood around the same period.
Rob became famous through films such as The Outsiders, St. Elmo’s Fire and About Last Night… before establishing another successful career in television.
Chad became particularly associated with dramatic television acting and later directing.
The brothers have remained close over the years and have occasionally worked together.
Their relationship became especially visible through 9-1-1: Lone Star, where Rob starred and Chad directed several episodes.
They also supported each other through major family difficulties, including the death of their mother, Barbara, in 2003.
Hilary Swank Marriage
Chad Lowe was previously married to actress Hilary Swank.
The pair met while working on Quiet Days in Hollywood and married in September 1997.
Their marriage overlapped with Swank’s rise to major Hollywood success.
When she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Boys Don’t Cry in 2000, Swank famously forgot to thank Lowe during her acceptance speech.
The incident received considerable media attention, although Lowe later explained that he did not take the omission personally.
When Swank won another Best Actress Oscar for Million Dollar Baby in 2005, Lowe was the first person she thanked.
The couple separated in 2006, and their divorce was finalised in 2007.
Chad Lowe Wife: Kim Painter
Lowe later began a relationship with producer Kim Painter.
The couple married on August 28, 2010, in Los Angeles.
By the time they married, they had already welcomed their first daughter, Mabel.
Kim has worked in entertainment as a producer and has generally maintained a lower public profile than her husband.
Lowe has frequently spoken publicly about how important fatherhood and family became to him as he grew older.
Chad Lowe Children
Chad Lowe and Kim Painter became parents to three daughters.
Their eldest, Mabel Painter Lowe, was born in May 2009.
Their second daughter, Fiona Hepler Lowe, was born in November 2012.
The couple welcomed their youngest daughter, Nixie Barbara Lowe, in March 2016.
Nixie’s middle name honoured Lowe’s late mother, Barbara. Fiona’s middle name, Hepler, also came from his mother’s family name.
Lowe has often described raising daughters as one of the most meaningful parts of his life.
Death of Daughter Fiona
On September 29, 2026, Lowe and Painter announced that their daughter Fiona had died at age 13.
The family described her as loving, smart, creative and passionate about dancing. They said she was deeply loved by her parents and sisters and asked for privacy while they grieved.
A cause of death was not publicly confirmed in the family’s announcement, and it would be inappropriate to speculate about the circumstances.
The loss came after another extremely difficult period for the family.
In January 2025, Lowe and his family lost their home during the destructive Pacific Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles.
Despite losing the property and many possessions, Lowe had publicly focused on his family’s safety and the resilience of his daughters.
Fiona’s death the following year brought a much more profound personal loss.
Chad Lowe Net Worth
Chad Lowe’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified through authoritative financial records.
Various entertainment and celebrity-finance websites publish estimates, but those figures should not be treated as confirmed.
Lowe has nevertheless earned income from a career lasting more than four decades.
His earnings have come from acting in television and film, directing episodic television, producing and other entertainment work.
His transition into directing and executive producing has also allowed him to maintain a steady career even as his acting appearances became less frequent.
Without reliable information about his property, investments, contracts, liabilities and other private assets, attaching a precise figure to his fortune would be speculative.
The most accurate conclusion is that Lowe has built substantial career earnings through decades in Hollywood, while his exact current net worth remains private.
Conclusion
The Chad Lowe biography is more than the story of Rob Lowe’s younger brother.
He established his own reputation when his performance as Jesse McKenna in Life Goes On earned him a Primetime Emmy in 1993. He later built a lengthy television career before successfully moving into directing and producing.
His work on Pretty Little Liars, 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star and, most recently, 9-1-1: Nashville demonstrates how he has remained active in the industry while changing roles behind the camera.
Away from entertainment, Lowe’s life has included two marriages, fatherhood and significant family losses. As of September 2026, he remains married to Kim Painter and active professionally, while his family is mourning the death of their daughter Fiona.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chad Lowe?
Chad Lowe is an American actor, director and producer. He won a Primetime Emmy for Life Goes On and later developed a successful career directing television series.
How old is Chad Lowe?
Chad Lowe was born on January 15, 1968. He is 58 years old as of 2026.
Is Chad Lowe related to Rob Lowe?
Yes. Chad Lowe is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe. Both brothers were born to Barbara Lynn Hepler and Charles Davis Lowe.
Who is Chad Lowe’s wife?
Chad Lowe is married to producer Kim Painter. They married in August 2010.
Was Chad Lowe married to Hilary Swank?
Yes. Chad Lowe and Hilary Swank married in 1997. They separated in 2006, and their divorce was finalised in 2007.
How many children does Chad Lowe have?
Chad Lowe and Kim Painter had three daughters: Mabel, Fiona and Nixie. Fiona died in 2026 at the age of 13.
What is Chad Lowe’s net worth?
Chad Lowe’s exact net worth has not been reliably disclosed. He has earned income from more than four decades of acting, directing and producing, but no authoritative public record establishes his complete personal wealth.
