Rob Lowe Spills Secrets: Why He Bailed on 'The West Wing' and Compares it to a Toxic Romance

Rob Lowe has revealed the true cause for his unexpected exit from The West Wing, likening his time on the popular NBC series to a toxic and unhealthy connection.

Lowe, who is 59 years old, portrayed the character Sam Seaborn on the series for a duration of four seasons. However, in 2003, he made the decision to abruptly depart from the show due to feeling a strong sense of being undervalued. These revelations were shared by Lowe during an episode of the "Podcrushed" podcast that aired on Wednesday, August 9th. In reflecting on his departure, he candidly expressed that leaving the series was akin to walking away from the most popular girl in school. He firmly believes that this decision was ultimately the best thing he ever did.

Lowe expressed dissatisfaction with his experience on the set, stating that he initially made an effort to make it work. However, the decision to leave the show was prompted by his children, Matthew (30) and John Owen (28), whom he shares with his wife Sheryl Berkoff. Lowe explained that his children were reaching a stage in their lives where they could potentially find themselves in unhealthy relationships, similar to his own experience on the show. He knew that if he couldn't walk away from a toxic situation, he couldn't expect his children to do the same.

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Lowe had received praise from people, who would often mention how popular and amazing The West Wing was. However, he had reached a point where he no longer desired to be involved in it. Although his discontentment was evident, his initial statement alluded to additional reasons behind his decision to leave.

Rob Lowe in ‘The West Wing’ Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Lowe's statement upon leaving The West Wing acknowledged that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn. Both Warners and John Wells Productions emphasized that the decision was "amicable" and not related to salary disputes.

In the concluding episode of Lowe's tenure as a regular cast member, fittingly named "Red Haven's on Fire," his character departs the White House to embark on a congressional campaign in Orange County, California.

Running from 1999 to 2006, The West Wing, featuring notable actors Martin Sheen, John Spencer, and Allison Janney, aired on NBC. In the show's last season, Lowe returned for a reprisal of his role as Sam Seaborn, appearing in two episodes.