In a new PEOPLE cover story, the beloved Hollywood actor talks starring in ‘9-1-1: Lone Star,’ ‘The Floor’ and ‘Unstable’ at the same time
For Rob Lowe, 60 is the new 30.
“It’s shocking to me that I’m 60, but I feel 30, I really do,” the preternaturally youthful star tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story that celebrates the most transformative moments in his life. “I’m really lucky I’m as preserved as I am.”
Lucky, sure, but Lowe has put in the work with how he approaches life, his health, sobriety and his overall place in the world.
“Number one, it’s spirit. We’ve all met 30-year-olds who feel like they have the weight of the world on them and seem old before their time. And we’ve all met 90-year-olds that have the twinkle in their eye,” he says.
“So, it really is about spirit, enthusiasm, optimism, curiosity and physical vigor. Then you throw in genetics and the fact that I’m not having a glass of wine every night before bed, and it all starts to add up.”
Lowe’s positive outlook, nourished by 34 years of sobriety and a thriving family life with his wife Sheryl, 63, and kids Matthew, 30, and John Owen, 28, also extends to how he embraces an enduring career.
“I’m a worker bee,” he says. “I will always work. I think it’s important [and] I learn from it. Work fires me up.”
In fact, beginning with his role on The West Wing, Lowe has been on television ever single season since 1999, uninterrupted.
“I’m really proud of that,” he says.
Currently, Lowe is juggling three shows across genres. He stars as Captain Owen Strand on 9-1-1: Lone Star, Fox’s action procedural, hosts the trivia game show The Floor, and costars with John Owen on the Netflix comedy Unstable, now in its second season.
“I’m busier than I’ve ever been and have more interesting opportunities than I’ve ever had,” he says.
Taking stock of his 60 years, Lowe allows that both his life and career have exceeded his wildest dreams. “I mean, the notion of having such a long, great marriage, being sober 34 years, having two healthy, productive, amazing boys, going into my sixth decade, working at this level, I know how rare that is,” he says with earnest humility.
“If I’d have gotten the wishes that I had wished for myself when I was younger, I would’ve sold myself short. I’m super grateful.”
