WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Rob Lowe reportedly dropped everything to support his younger brother Chad following the death of Chad’s 13 year old daughter, Fiona.
- Chad Lowe and Kim Painter remembered Fiona as smart, creative, loving and passionate about dance.
- The family shared information for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, although no official cause of death was revealed.
- Fiona’s grandfather Chuck Lowe also honored her with a brief Instagram tribute and a photograph.
Rob Lowe has reportedly put everything aside to support his younger brother, Chad Lowe, following the death of Chad’s 13 year old daughter, Fiona. The grieving family has also shared a suicide awareness message, although no official cause of death has been revealed.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Fiona died Tuesday at her family’s home in California. Police were reportedly called to the house at 12:10am.
Hours later, Chad and his wife, producer Kim Painter, announced their daughter’s death in a statement. The couple asked for prayers and privacy as their family confronts the devastating loss.
“We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona,” their statement read. “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.”
Chad Lowe—the younger brother of Rob Lowe—and Kim Painter shared on Sept. 29 that their daughter Fiona Harper has died. She was 13. https://t.co/9PAuSnA5np pic.twitter.com/uu1FdrE99o
— E! News (@enews) September 30, 2026
Chad and Kim also directed anyone struggling with mental health toward crisis support. Their message came in the wake of Fiona’s death, but the family did not disclose an official cause.
“If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988,” the grieving parents added.
Fiona was the middle of three daughters born to Chad and Kim, who have been married since 2010. The couple are also parents to Mabel Painter, 17, and Nixie Barbara, 10.
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Fiona’s grandfather Chuck Lowe, 87, honored his granddaughter on Instagram on Wednesday. He shared a photograph showing Fiona swimming in a pool.
“Rest in peace sweet Fiona,” Chuck wrote alongside the image.
As the family mourns, an insider said Rob immediately stepped away from his Hollywood obligations to be with Chad. The source described Rob’s focus as entirely centered on supporting his younger brother.
“Rob dropped everything,” a source tells Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice. “Chad is his little brother, and the second he heard, Hollywood stopped mattering. There was nowhere else Rob was going to be except by Chad’s side.”
Chad Lowe's father Chuck Lowe shared a heartbreaking tribute to his granddaughter Fiona after Chad and wife Kim Painter confirmed she had died at the age of 13. https://t.co/eVbBO8OSKM pic.twitter.com/pfjvcAtPPZ
— E! News (@enews) October 1, 2026
Rob, 62, and Chad, 58, have leaned on each other since childhood. They grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and navigated their parents’ divorce together when they were young.
Both brothers later established successful Hollywood careers. They appeared onscreen together for the first time in 2022 on the television series 9-1-1: Lone Star.
The insider said Rob recognizes that he cannot remove his brother’s pain but can remain close and offer support. According to the source, Rob is determined to ensure Chad does not endure his grief alone.
“Rob knows there are no words that can fix this,” the source continued. “He can’t take away Chad’s grief. What he can do is be present, protect his brother and make absolutely certain he never has to face this alone.”
The source portrayed Rob’s role within the family as more important than his public identity during the crisis. “Forget Rob Lowe the movie star,” the insider concluded. “Right now, he’s simply a big brother helping hold his family together.”
Following the death of Chad Lowe and Kim Painter’s 13-year-old daughter Fiona, the couple’s loved ones have expressed their heartbreak over the devastating loss. https://t.co/kIiOeetoZW pic.twitter.com/08HpcJBXzG
— E! News (@enews) September 30, 2026
Fiona’s death follows another devastating experience for the family. Last year, Chad, Kim and their daughters lost their house in the Pacific Palisades Fire.
In February of 2025, Chad revealed that the family had returned to see what remained of the home where Fiona and her sisters had grown up. He praised his daughters for how they had managed the painful experience.
“Almost a month after we evacuated our girls finally got to go back to see what’s left of their home,” Chad wrote on Instagram at the time. “The way they’ve handled this whole devastating experience is 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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.”
Chad was previously married to two time Oscar winning actress Hilary Swank, 52. His family is now asking for privacy and prayers as they grieve Fiona, whom her parents remembered as smart, creative, loving and passionate about dance.
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