A family statement issued Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, announced the death of Fiona Hepler Lowe, 13, whose father is actor, director and producer Chad Lowe and whose mother is producer Kim Painter. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the office said Oct. 1.
“We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona. She was a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance,” the family said.
“She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents,” the statement continued. “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.”
The statement concluded: “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.”
A Sister’s Tribute
Fiona’s older sister, Mabel Lowe, 17, posted an Instagram tribute with childhood photos of the two of them. “I love you so much fiona ❤️ i wish your short time here was easier and i hope your mind is at ease now. I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive. I love you, i hope you knew just how much,” Mabel wrote.
Her mother, Kim Painter, 52, commented beneath the tribute, “Oh Mabel. I love you so much.”
“Bless you dear Mabel. My deepest condolences to you and the family,” actor Jeremy Renner wrote in a comment on the post. Actress Jessica Capshaw wrote, “What a beautiful tribute to your sister.” Actress Ashley Benson, who starred with Chad Lowe on “Pretty Little Liars,” commented with dove and prayer emoji.
What the Medical Examiner Said
In a medical examiner statement shared with People on Thursday, Oct. 1, the office said Fiona was pronounced dead on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at a local hospital.
A Grandfather’s Tribute
Fiona’s grandfather, Charles “Chuck” Lowe — the father of Chad Lowe and actor Rob Lowe — posted an Instagram tribute Sept. 30, a day after the family announced her death. The photo showed Fiona smiling in a swimming pool. “Rest in peace sweet Fiona,” he wrote.
The principal of the school Fiona attended emailed parents on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 29, saying one of the school’s students had died. The message did not identify the student and said counseling would be made available to classmates and staff members who needed it.
Birthday Post and Family Life
Chad Lowe, 58, marked Fiona’s 13th birthday in an Instagram post in November 2025, with a picture of her grinning in cowboy boots. “Keep dancing through life FiBear!” he wrote. Fiona was born Nov. 16, 2012. Her middle name, Hepler, was Chad Lowe’s late mother’s maiden name and is Rob Lowe’s middle name, per People.
Lowe and Painter have been married since August 2010. Mabel Painter Lowe, 17, and Nixie Barbara Lowe, 10, are the couple’s other daughters. All five of them turned out together at the premiere event for “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Feb. 4, 2023. Lowe posted a family photo in May 2026 to wish Painter a happy Mother’s Day.
A Home Lost in the Palisades Fire
The Palisades fire tore through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and destroyed homes, among them the one belonging to this family of five. Lowe posted photographs in February 2025 of his three daughters visiting the ruins of the house where they grew up, and one of the pictures showed the sisters standing with their arms around one another.
In that caption he praised how the girls had coped with the loss, said he was in awe of their spirit and resilience, called guiding them through the aftermath his sole purpose and said being their father was the greatest joy and privilege of his life.
In January 2026, the first anniversary of the fire, Lowe posted photos from a visit to the remains of the family home. “One year ago today, our lives got turned upside down by a completely preventable catastrophe. It’s hard not to let the anger, despair, and frustration overwhelm,” he wrote.
In August 2024, Lowe spoke about raising daughters on the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast. Gender inequality and the glass ceiling had been ideas he grasped intellectually, he said, until fatherhood to three daughters turned them into things he felt; he added that he had come to view the world through their eyes.
Lowe, the younger brother of Rob Lowe, won an Emmy Award for his supporting role in “Life Goes On” as a young man living with HIV. He went on to act in “Melrose Place” and “Pretty Little Liars,” and in 2022 appeared in “9-1-1: Lone Star” as the on-screen brother of his real-life brother. Actress Hilary Swank was his first wife; the two split in January 2006 after eight years of marriage.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available in the U.S. any hour of day or night by calling or texting 988, or chatting online. People in crisis who text 741741 can reach the Crisis Text Line, which provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
