From being the White House Deputy Communications Director on "The West Wing" to the municipal city manager in "Parks and Recreation" – and several more shows in-between – Rob Lowe's TV prime-time prominence continues with his current hit, procedural drama series "9-1-1: Lone Star".
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The spin-off to the Los Angeles-centric "9-1-1", which is set in the Texas capital city of Austin, sees Lowe as Owen Strand, a New York City firefighter captain and lung cancer survivor who was one of the first responders during the Sept. 11 attacks, moving to the Lone Star state to assume similar duties. He is accompanied by his son T.K. who follows his father's professional footsteps while dealing with an opioid addiction and his sexuality. T.K. is played by Israeli-American actor Ronen Rubinstein, who moved to America with his family when he five years old.
Each episode, firefighters and paramedics treat different cases, all the while having their personal life issues. The new season also deals with the effects of COVID-19 and an added Strand family member that arrives in town; Owen's ex-wife played by Jewish-American actress Lisa Edelstein ("House").
In an interview promoting the show Lowe revealed the role was essentially written for him, adding "That's the good news and the bad news, because sometimes I'll get the scripts and go, "Wait a minute! Where did that come -- oh, right." So, all my personal obsessions -- men's skin care, my hair -- it's all in the show. And it's fun, because you don't usually get that kind of humor in a first responder show. So, I love that we're able to sort of make fun of that stuff".
Q: Did you train ahead of starting the show?
"We've done a lot of training with the Los Angeles Fire Department. I also just in my personal life have a lot of friends who are first responders – not a lot of friends, but I have friends who are first responders and sheriffs and I spend a lot of time with them going on rides, ride-alongs. And so, I know sort of what makes those real heroes tick. And I love—in an entertainment landscape that is increasingly about superheroes that I get to play a human being who is a hero".
"9-1-1: Lone Star" co-creator is Ryan Murphy, one of the most sought-after TV producers working today in Hollywood, and whose shows with producing parting Brad Falchuk include "Nip/Tuck", "Glee", "American Horror Story" and the Emmy celebrated "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story".
For Lowe, now in his late 50's, it marks over two decades of non-stop TV roles, which also includes "Brothers and Sisters" alongside Calista Flockhart and Sally Field, the short-lived comedy "The Grinder" and hospital drama "Code Black".
"It's a good streak", admits Lowe, "I thought the streak was over this year and then this came up. I love working in television. So, I've been on television since 1999 without a break, so I'm good to go. As long as it's something I like doing around people I love and respect and you know, the fact that—you know, I mean listen, Brad Falchuk's wife Gwyneth Paltrow is godfather to my son. So, you know, it's all sort of in the family and my son is writing on the staff. We just finished the episode he wrote. It's his first produced episode of television. I'm a very proud papa".
Q: How do you guide your son starting his way in the industry"
"I'm really proud of him because you have to understand, he is a straight-A student, went to Stanford, came out of it and said, "I want to be an actor". I wanted to kill myself. I was like, "Great, that's just what society needs, one less person who might cure cancer and one more person who wears makeup for a living. Great, sounds perfect." So, the caveat I said is, "Look, I'll support you in whatever you do, obviously, but if you're going to be an actor, be a content provider. You're smart, you're a writer, write." I'm really proud that he's dug in with the writing and that has really taken off. And that Ryan Murphy recognized it before I was even involved makes me feel good. Because you can open the doors, but they have to step into them".
Q: What is the secret for a long-lasting career?
"Reinvent yourself, be fearless. Say yes Don't judge yourself based on other people".
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