# Chad Lowe
**Chad Lowe** (Charles Davis Lowe II; born 1968 in [Dayton, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/dayton-ohio)) is an American actor, director, and producer, best known for his Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Jesse McKenna on ABC's *Life Goes On* and for playing Byron Montgomery, Aria's father, on *Pretty Little Liars*.[1](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/chad-lowe) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165/?showAllCredits=true) He is the younger brother of actor [Rob Lowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-lowe).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165/?showAllCredits=true)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968, Dayton, Ohio[3](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/) |
| Signature role | Jesse McKenna on *Life Goes On* (ABC, 1991–1993); Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, 1993[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chad-lowe) • [5](https://srcwap.com/chad-lowe-biography) |
| Other acting roles | Byron Montgomery on *Pretty Little Liars* (50 episodes as a series regular), Reed Pollock on *24*, Dr. George Henry on *ER*, Luke Grant on *Popular*, Carter Gallavan on *Melrose Place*, Robert Strand on *9-1-1: Lone Star*[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe) • [1](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/chad-lowe) |
| Directing | Feature debut *Beautiful Ohio* (2006); 15 episodes of *Pretty Little Liars*; episodes of *The Flash*, *Life in Pieces*, *9-1-1*, *9-1-1: Lone Star*, and *9-1-1: Nashville*[7](https://okmagazine.com/p/chad-lowe-inside-his-career-actor-director/) • [3](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/) |
| Marriages | Hilary Swank (married September 28, 1997; divorced 2006 by one account, 2007 by another); Kim Painter, married August 28, 2010, three daughters[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lowe-chad-1968) • [9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165) |
| Awards | Primetime Emmy (1993) and Viewers for Quality Television Q Award (1993), both for *Life Goes On*[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chad-lowe) • [8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lowe-chad-1968) |
## Early life and beginnings
Lowe was born in Dayton, Ohio, to Barbara Lowe, a teacher and writer, and Chuck Lowe, a lawyer; the parents divorced when the boys were in elementary school, and the family moved to California, where Chad attended [Santa Monica High School](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-monica-high-school).[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe) In a November 2025 interview on Steve Kmetko's "Still Here Hollywood" podcast, he said acting became important to him at a young age after [Martin Sheen](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-sheen), a neighbor after the family's move to Point Dume, described the profession as a "way of life."[7](https://okmagazine.com/p/chad-lowe-inside-his-career-actor-director/) • [11](https://stillherehollywood.com/episodes/chad-lowe-life-goes-on-encore/transcript)
His first screen work came in 1984: he appeared opposite his older brother Rob in the film *Oxford Blues*, played Al Hamilton in the NBC television movie *Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac*, and took the title role of Spencer Winger on the NBC sitcom *Spencer* (1984–85).[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe) • [12](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/bio/3000397341/) According to *TV Stars: The Complete Directory to Prime Time*, he quit the series after only a few episodes following a contract dispute with NBC.[13](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/TV-Stars-The-Complete-Directory-to-Prime-Time-1964-Present-B--221117.pdf) His 1988 CBS Schoolbreak Special appearance in "No Means No," about date rape, earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination.[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/)
## Life Goes On and the Emmy
From 1991 to 1993, Lowe starred as Jesse McKenna on the ABC family drama *Life Goes On*, playing one of television's first HIV-positive characters to have a love life on a series that followed two teenagers, one of them living with HIV.[14](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-29-ca-24563-story.html) • [5](https://srcwap.com/chad-lowe-biography) The role won him the 1993 [Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/primetime-emmy-award-for-outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-drama-series), along with the Viewers for Quality Television Q Award for best supporting actor in a quality drama series.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chad-lowe) • [8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lowe-chad-1968) In a 2025 podcast interview he called *Life Goes On* the most meaningful work of his career.[11](https://stillherehollywood.com/episodes/chad-lowe-life-goes-on-encore/transcript)
## Acting career after Life Goes On
Lowe worked steadily through the 1990s in television movies and independent features, including *[Highway to Hell](https://www.edgepedia.org/highway-to-hell-1991-film)* (1991), *Driven* (1996), *Floating* (1999), and *Suicide, the Comedy* (1998).[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lowe-chad-1968) • [1](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/chad-lowe) He had a recurring role as Carter Gallavan on Fox's *Melrose Place* in the 1996–97 season, and later recurring parts as Luke Grant on The WB's *Popular* and Dr. George Henry on NBC's *ER*.[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/) • [1](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/chad-lowe) In 2000 he played the title role in the CBS biopic *Take Me Home: The John Denver Story*; the Los Angeles Times described his Denver as a man more comfortable in his public role as an all-American superstar than in his private life.[14](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-29-ca-24563-story.html)
**Recurring network roles.** He played Reed Pollock, a presidential advisor, on Fox's *24* in 2007, appeared in the film *[Unfaithful](https://www.edgepedia.org/unfaithful-2002-film)* (2002), and played Thomas Coville on [The CW](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-cw)'s *Supergirl* from 2017 to 2020.[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165) From 2011 to 2019 he voiced Billy Batson, Captain Marvel, and Shazam in the animated series *Young Justice*.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165)
His longest later acting run was as Byron Montgomery, father of [Lucy Hale](https://www.edgepedia.org/lucy-hale)'s Aria, on ABC Family's *Pretty Little Liars*: he replaced [Alexis Denisof](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexis-denisof) in the role in April 2010, appeared in 50 episodes as a series regular plus 9 more as a guest through the 2017 finale, and also directed 15 episodes of the show.[15](https://prettylittleliars.fandom.com/wiki/Chad_Lowe) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe) • [3](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/) Between 2022 and 2024 he recurred as Robert Strand, the half-brother of Rob Lowe's character Owen Strand, on Fox's *9-1-1: Lone Star*, the first time the brothers acted together on the series.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165) • [9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/)
## Directing and producing
Lowe's television directing began with episodes of *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* and *Hack* in 2003 and 2004, and expanded to 13 episodes of *Bones*, episodes of *Brothers & Sisters* and *Without a Trace*, six episodes of *Life in Pieces*, four episodes of *The Flash* between 2019 and 2023, and episodes of *9-1-1* in 2019 and 2024.[5](https://srcwap.com/chad-lowe-biography) His feature directorial debut was the independent film *Beautiful Ohio* (2006), which he also produced.[7](https://okmagazine.com/p/chad-lowe-inside-his-career-actor-director/) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165)
**The 9-1-1 franchise.** Lowe directed six episodes of *9-1-1: Lone Star* between 2021 and 2024 and became a co-executive producer and director on the spinoff *9-1-1: Nashville* (2025–2026), directing episodes including the second-season premiere.[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165/?showAllCredits=true) Rob Lowe has said his brother serves as executive producer and director on *Nashville* and has directed most of its episodes.[16](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/rob-lowe-weighs-in-whether-hed-reprise-9-1-1-lone-star-role-nashville-spinoff) In a 2021 [Fox News](https://www.edgepedia.org/fox-news) interview, Chad Lowe said directing is where he feels "most authentic and most challenged," while acting feels "more insular and more vulnerable."[17](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rob-lowe-brother-chad-lowe-family-hollywood-9-1-1-lone-star.amp)
## Personal life
Lowe married actress [Hilary Swank](https://www.edgepedia.org/hilary-swank) on September 28, 1997; accounts place the divorce in 2006 or 2007.[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lowe-chad-1968) • [9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/) • [3](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/) He married producer Kim Painter on August 28, 2010, and they have three daughters, Mabel, Fiona, and Nixie.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165) • [18](https://www.eonline.com/news/1436596/inside-chad-lowes-life-with-kim-painter-daughters-fiona-mabel-nixie) The family's Pacific Palisades home burned down in the January 2025 fires.[18](https://www.eonline.com/news/1436596/inside-chad-lowes-life-with-kim-painter-daughters-fiona-mabel-nixie) In September 2026, the family announced that Fiona had died on September 29 at the age of 13.[19](https://los40.com/2026/09/30/muere-fiona-hepler-hija-de-chad-lowe-y-sobrina-de-rob-lowe-con-tan-solo-13-anos-estamos-profundamente-destrozados/)
## References
1. [Chad Lowe artist profile, L.A. Theatre Works](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/chad-lowe)
2. [Chad Lowe full credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165/?showAllCredits=true)
3. [Chad Lowe News, Us Weekly](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/)
4. [Chad Lowe, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chad-lowe)
5. [Chad Lowe Biography, SRCWAP](https://srcwap.com/chad-lowe-biography)
6. [Chad Lowe, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/18979/chad-lowe)
7. [Who Is Chad Lowe? His Acting & Directing Career Explored, OK! Magazine](https://okmagazine.com/p/chad-lowe-inside-his-career-actor-director/)
8. [Lowe, Chad 1968–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lowe-chad-1968)
9. [Chad Lowe, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chad-lowe/)
10. [Chad Lowe, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005165)
11. [Chad Lowe "Life Goes On" Encore, Still Here Hollywood transcript](https://stillherehollywood.com/episodes/chad-lowe-life-goes-on-encore/transcript)
12. [Chad Lowe Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chad-lowe/bio/3000397341/)
13. [TV Stars: The Complete Directory to Prime Time, entry LOWE, CHAD](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Radio-Programming/TV-Stars-The-Complete-Directory-to-Prime-Time-1964-Present-B--221117.pdf)
14. [Chad Lowe's Not-So-Winding Road to 'Take Me Home', Los Angeles Times (2000)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-29-ca-24563-story.html)
15. [Chad Lowe, Pretty Little Liars Wiki](https://prettylittleliars.fandom.com/wiki/Chad_Lowe)
16. [Rob Lowe Weighs In On Whether He'd Reprise His 9-1-1: Lone Star Role, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/rob-lowe-weighs-in-whether-hed-reprise-9-1-1-lone-star-role-nashville-spinoff)
17. [Rob Lowe's brother Chad Lowe on how the pair have stayed grounded, Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rob-lowe-brother-chad-lowe-family-hollywood-9-1-1-lone-star.amp)
18. [Inside Chad Lowe's Private Family World With Wife Kim Painter and Their 3 Daughters, E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/news/1436596/inside-chad-lowes-life-with-kim-painter-daughters-fiona-mabel-nixie)
19. [Muere Fiona Hepler, hija de Chad Lowe, los40 (September 30, 2026)](https://los40.com/2026/09/30/muere-fiona-hepler-hija-de-chad-lowe-y-sobrina-de-rob-lowe-con-tan-solo-13-anos-estamos-profundamente-destrozados/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Le to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license