Actor Chad Lowe's deeply personal reflections on being a devoted "girl dad" have resurfaced following the tragic death of his 13-year-old daughter, Fiona. Her family confirmed her passing on Tuesday, urging those struggling with mental health to seek help through the suicide prevention helpline.
Lowe, who shared Fiona with his wife, producer Kim Painter, is also father to daughters Mabel, 17, and Nixie, 10. Two years prior to Fiona's death, Lowe, the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe, described fatherhood to three daughters as an "incredible privilege" during an appearance on the "Still Here Hollywood" podcast.
"I’m a girl dad," Lowe said in a 2024 interview. "It’s so interesting because I’m always wanting to have my own experiences and not live in the shadow or follow in the footsteps of somebody. I get the experience of being a girl dad. I feel like having daughters is such an incredible privilege."
He elaborated on how his perspective on the world, particularly regarding social issues, shifted due to his daughters. "I look at the world from really their perspective and I see the world and a lot of the injustices in the world from their perspective," he explained. "It’s not all doom and gloom. Society is changing. I see how we’re really becoming conscious of the role of women. We may, who knows, have the first female president. [We’re] really empowering women and seeing how much women have to offer. I personally think that if women were in charge of nations, we’d be a lot more peaceful."
In a statement, Lowe's family described Fiona as "the light of our lives." The statement continued, "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." The family concluded their statement by directing individuals experiencing mental health struggles to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to TMZ that Fiona died at her home on Tuesday. According to Page Six, parents at her school received an email from the principal informing them of a student's death, offering condolences and making counselors available for emotional support.
Lowe's social media is filled with tributes to his daughters. In November, he celebrated Fiona's 13th birthday, sharing a photo of her and writing, "Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!" He also previously shared a photo of all three daughters surveying the ruins of their Los Angeles home after the Palisades fire, praising their resilience. "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 wrote.
In January, Lowe spoke about the "despair" he felt after losing his home in the fires, calling it a "completely preventable catastrophe." He noted the difficulty of coping with losing everything but expressed pride in how his wife and daughters managed the situation. "However, this terrible experience has been a powerful reminder of this simple truth - we can't always control what happens to us in this life but we can control how we respond," he posted on Instagram, thanking others for their support.
Lowe won an Emmy Award in 1993 for his role on "Life Goes On" and has also appeared in "Melrose Place," "ER," and "24."