Rob Lowe has saved the White House, launched Hollywood scandals, and fought fires in Texas, but in Dog Gone, he’s after something much simpler: a lost dog.
The Netflix film tells the real-life story of a father and son searching for their runaway golden retriever on the Appalachian Trail. “I love a good tearjerker,” Lowe says. “A three-hanky movie where you bring the Kleenex.” Add in a father-son dynamic, a journey of healing, and sweeping mountain vistas, and he was all in.
Filming with a dog can be unpredictable, but Lowe had nothing but praise for his co-star. “This dog was the Daniel Day-Lewis of dog actors,” he jokes. “We had two—one for the high-energy stuff and one for the more calm, soulful moments.” The story, which began as a local news piece, became a national sensation when people rallied to help find the lost dog. “It’s really about the power of people coming together for something small but meaningful,” Lowe adds.
Music plays a role, too. There’s a scene where Lowe belts out Rhinestone Cowboy, and he’s quick to defend his singing chops. “Lucille Ball liked it when I sang at the Oscars,” he says. “A billion other people didn’t, but Lucille did.” The soundtrack also features My Morning Jacket—fitting for a film set in the Appalachian region.
Beyond Dog Gone, Lowe is deep into season four of 9-1-1: Lone Star and remains open to revisiting past characters. “I’d always play Sam Seaborn again,” he says of The West Wing. “We did a reunion last year, and it felt like slipping back into something timeless.” Other past roles intrigue him, too. “I’d love to revisit Bad Influence with James Spader or Eddie Nero from Californication.”
For Lowe, Dog Gone also mirrored his own life as a father. “Playing a dad whose kid is figuring out their next step really resonated with me,” he says. “It’s what I was living at the time.” The film explores themes of healing and redemption, and Lowe believes it’s those emotional layers that make it special.
With Dog Gone, Lowe proves he still knows how to pull heartstrings—whether with political speeches, action-packed rescues, or chasing after a dog that means the world to one family.
Watch the interview above and then check out the videos below.
