Chad Lowe Recounts Joy of Fatherhood Before Daughter Fiona's Death
The "Life Goes On" actor previously described being a "girl dad" as a profound privilege.
Actor Chad Lowe frequently expressed his deep appreciation for fatherhood, particularly his role as a "girl dad" to his three daughters, before the tragic death of his middle child, Fiona, in September 2026. Fiona passed away at the age of 13.
In a December 2025 interview on the "Still Here Hollywood" podcast, Lowe reflected on the experience of raising daughters, calling it a "privilege." He stated, "I feel like having daughters is such an incredible privilege because it takes what I have known intellectually about women and all the equality and the glass ceiling that’s there, and how it’s a misogynistic world in many ways."
He elaborated on how fathering daughters shifted his perspective, explaining, "And now it’s taken what I’ve known, and it’s put it in my heart because I now have three daughters. So, I look at the world from, really, their perspective."
Lowe, who shares daughters Mabel, 17, Fiona, and Nixie, 10, with his wife Kim Painter, previously shared his family's experience losing their home to devastating Los Angeles-area fires. In an Instagram post from February 2026, weeks after the fire, he shared a picture of his family returning to their damaged home.
"Almost a month after we evacuated our girls finally got to go back to see what’s left of their home," he captioned the post. The "Pretty Little Liars" alum described his wife and daughters' resilience in the face of losing their home of over a decade as "nothing short of remarkable."
"I am in awe of their spirit and resilience. Helping them navigate these tough times is my sole purpose. Being their dad is my life’s greatest joy and privilege ⭐️⭐️⭐️," he added.
In November 2025, Lowe celebrated Fiona's transition into her teenage years on Instagram, writing, "Celebrating Fiona officially becoming a teen today!! Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!"
During a family ski trip to Mammoth Mountain in California in 2024, Lowe emphasized his gratitude, noting he "didn’t take one moment of it for granted" and adding the hashtags "#blessed" and "#girldad."
Fiona's passing was announced as she was weeks away from her 14th birthday. Her family released a statement expressing their profound grief: "We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona. She was a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance. She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents. In fact, she was the light of our lives. Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time."
The family has not disclosed the cause of Fiona's death. Lowe and Painter have been married since August 2010 and welcomed Mabel in May 2009, Fiona in November 2012, and Nixie in March 2016.