For years, Chad Lowe and his family appeared to have built a close-knit life in Pacific Palisades, with their three daughters growing up surrounded by family, school friends and dance.
That picture was shattered when the Palisades Fire destroyed their home and displaced the family. Months later, the death of 13-year-old Fiona Lowe has left those who knew her remembering the bright, outgoing girl she was.
Her parents have described their heartbreak, while a family friend says, “something happened” after the fire.
Chad Lowe’s Friend Remembers Fiona As A Bright, Outgoing Girl
Before the family faced unimaginable loss, those closest to her remembered Fiona for the warmth she brought to everyday life.
Music executive Mykesha Robinson’s daughter, Faith, became friends with Fiona when they met at Palisades Charter Elementary School.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Robinson recalled that Faith initially struggled to fit in, but Fiona approached her and asked, “Hey, do you want to be friends? Do you want to go jump rope?”
The girls quickly became inseparable, earning the nickname “FiFi” and becoming “two peas in a pod.”
Robinson described Fiona as “sweet,” “loving,” and “so kind,” while remembering Chad Lowe as a hands-on father and Kim Painter as a constant presence at their daughters’ school.
Chad’s Family Lost Their Home In The Palisades Fire
The family’s life changed dramatically when the Palisades Fire tore through their community last year. The blaze destroyed the Chad Lowe family’s home and displaced residents throughout the area, while also destroying much of the elementary school Fiona and Faith had attended together.
The fire, driven by powerful Santa Ana winds, burned across 37 square miles, killing 12 people and destroying 6,837 structures. For the Lowe family, the loss meant rebuilding after losing the place where their daughters had grown up.
In February 2025, the “Life Goes On” actor shared photographs of his daughters returning to the remains of their home almost a month after they had evacuated.
According to Robinson, the destruction was especially difficult for a young person to imagine. Reflecting on Fiona’s death, she told the Daily Mail, “Something happened when the fires happened. They lost everything.”
She also revealed that Faith had recently attempted to reconnect with Fiona online. About two weeks before Fiona’s death, Faith created an Instagram account and requested to follow her former best friend, but the request was never accepted.
Chad Lowe’s Daughter Was Remembered Through Family Tributes
Fiona’s final year has since been remembered through the activities that brought her joy, particularly dancing.
On Saturday, her older sister Mabel took to Instagram to share photographs and videos showing Fiona at the beach, dressing up and appearing at what looked like a ballet photoshoot.
Mabel also paid tribute to her sister, writing, “I wish your short time here was easier and I hope your mind is at ease now and I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive.”
Chad had also celebrated his daughter publicly when she turned 13 last November. “Celebrating Fiona officially becoming a teen today!! Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!” he wrote in an Instagram post.
More From The Blast
- Chad Lowe’s family received another heartbreaking update after new details emerged about Fiona’s death.
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Chad’s Daughter’s Cause Of Death Was Ruled A Suicide
The circumstances surrounding Chad Lowe’s daughter’s death became clearer after the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released its determination.
Fiona died after emergency services responded to the Lowe family’s Los Angeles home at 12:10 a.m. on September 29.
She was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner subsequently ruled her death a suicide.
The medical examiner’s determination followed the Lowe family’s announcement of Fiona’s death on September 30.
At the time, Chad Lowe and his wife Painter did not publicly disclose the cause of death, but their statement included a message directed toward people struggling with mental health.
“We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona,” the couple said per The Blast, describing their daughter as “a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance.”
They added that Fiona “was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents” and “was the light of our lives.” The family also asked for prayers and privacy while encouraging anyone experiencing a mental-health crisis to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Chad Lowe Once Called Being A ‘Girl Dad’ An ‘Incredible Privilege’
Long before Fiona’s death, Chad had spoken openly about how raising three daughters changed his experience of fatherhood.
During a 2024 appearance on the “Still Here” podcast, the doting dad described himself as a “girl dad” and said having daughters gave him a different perspective on the world.
“I’m a girl dad. It’s so interesting because [I’m] always wanting to have my own experiences and not live in the shadow or follow in the footsteps of somebody,” Lowe said, adding, “I get the experience of being a girl dad,” he continued, calling it “such an incredible privilege.”
Lowe explained that raising daughters had taken ideas he had previously understood intellectually and made them more personal.
According to him, having three girls caused him to view the world differently because he was now experiencing it from their perspective.
The Chad Lowe’s Friend Says ‘Something Happened’ After Family Lost Everything first appeared on The Blast