Rob Lowe in the Limelight
By Rich Burlingham
In The Fray Magazine
May 16, 2006

First was the departure of star Rob Lowe, who played Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn and was the heart and soul of the show ~~ the character with idealism who reminds the rest of the characters why they do what they do and without many pats on the back.

When Rob Lowe left, he took away the one character who was the surrogate viewer, the character to which we placed ourselves into the show to ask the key philosophical questions about the rights and wrongs of serving the public.

Lowe Reflects on West Wing Return
Rob Lowe talks about returning for the final days
of "The West Wing"
By Daniel Fienberg
March 17 2006

Although his new comedy, Thank You For Smoking, is about the intersection of Hollywood and Washington, Rob Lowe sticks to the Tinseltown side, as a smarmy agent. Lowe is, however, ready for a return to the Beltway.

"I did the bulk of it last week and I think I have one more quick appearance," Lowe says of his scheduled return to NBC's The West Wing, a cameo set to coincide with the Emmy-winning show's pending series finale.

From 1999-2003, Lowe played Sam Seaborn on the political drama, earning an Emmy nomination in 2001 and picking up a pair of Screen Actors Guild awards as part of the series' decorated ensemble. A speechwriter and deputy communications director at the White House, Sam went off to run in a California special congressional election, allowing Lowe to depart. Neither of his subsequent television gigs -- The Lyon's Den and Dr. Vegas -- made it through even a half-season.

In addition to those series projects, Lowe had done several telefilms and features. One thing he apparently hasn't been doing is keeping up with his old show.

"I've been off the series for so long I don't really have a sense of what they've been doing, really," Lowe says in response to a question about whether or not this is the right time for The West Wing to be calling it quits. "I haven't watched it enough to know how the show really is since my departure."

Now, as The West Wing prepares for its last episodes this May, Lowe is one of several long-absent vets -- including Mary-Louise Parker and Marlee Matlin -- slated for returns.

"It was like going back to high school," Lowe says of his <i?WING< i> visit. "You go, 'I thought my locker was bigger than this.'"

Lowe is reticent to offer any specifics on what Sam's been doing since he left or what brings him back to the White House.

"I cannot. It's not a huge thing -- I don't land in a spaceship on the South Lawn -- but it is a sort of fun return."

He admits, though, that being on the West Wing set without John Spencer, who died in December, made the experience bittersweet.

"It was very sad," he says. "I kept going to the trailers thinking he was going to come out and go 'Kid, I've missed you so much.'"

The West Wing finale will air on May 14, though its unclear which closing episodes will feature Lowe.

"I would have made a good lawyer. I flirted with the idea of law because I love to debate. Or maybe some sort of government official, because I'm always looking to see where I fit politically."
~~ Rob Lowe, Biography Magazine, 2003

"I've always been unabashedly romantic and patriotic about this system, even when it was uncool and very unhip to be that way. When Sam gives a speech to Donna about why high treason is so terrible, that sort of gives voice to that part of myself." ~~Rob Lowe

As you've probably heard,
Sam Seaborn will be present
as The West Wing ends.

For all the devoted fans,
and in particular
the Save Sam Seaborn Society . . .
this one's for you.

As always, thanks for your
support and kindness.

Rob

Good-bye Sam
and
Thank you Rob
We love you both
Thanks for the memories . . .

We do not remember days; we remember moments.
~~ Cesare Pavese

Sam gave us so many wonderful moments that we'll never forget.
You're a treasure, Rob!

Return To Index