Rob Lowe to leave 'Brothers & Sisters'

After four seasons as Sen. Robert McCallister, Rob Lowe is leaving "Brothers & Sisters." ABC confirmed the news, but neither the network nor Lowe's spokesman offered details on how many episodes he will have left to finish.

Signs have slowly pointed toward a Lowe exit. Robert's heart attack last season had viewers speculating his impending death. Last week's announcement that Robert would not run for re-election left the fate and purpose of the character in question. Lowe's addition to the cast after guest-starring in the show's first season boosted ratings, and even though Lowe has excelled at meaty storylines and scenes with Calista Flockhart, Matthew Rhys and Sally Field, Robert has always remained a peripheral character.

In short, I'm not surprised he's leaving. However, it seems that although his run on "Brothers & Sisters" is over, his relationship with ABC is not. "We would like to keep Rob at ABC," said network president Steve McPherson in a statement. "We feel he should be anchoring his own franchise. We are in talks now."

With Robert's and Kitty's relationship stronger than ever after her illness, I don't see how else the show can write off the character other than killing him. We'll just have to wait and see how it develops, but feel free to comment on how you'd like to see Robert exit the show.

-- Enid Portuguez

Photo: Rob Lowe. Credit: ABC

Comments

[Julie]

I am saddened to hear of Rob Lowe's character leaving at the end of this season. I love him and Kitty together, happily married and supporting one another. Despite killing Robert off, being the ultimate drama to take place on the show, I strongly think he should be offered a goverment job far away, like Washington DC, or have him leave to another part of the U.S. to attend to one of his other children from his 1st marriage, for some reason. Also, have Kitty be okay with it, as she may have to stay in California if she wins the election, assuming she runs for Robert's job. Have her fly back and forth to see Robert, making him still a party of the crazy Walker family, but not visibly on the show. But please ABC, don't kill Robert off or divorce them. He and Kitty are too good together!!! Absolutely LOVE Brothers & Sisters!!!

-Julie*

[Jonathan]

Rob is an amazing actor with an incredible range of talents. He has an uncaney ability to delivery dialoge like none other and one of best acting talents today. I hope ABC keeps its promise to let him anchor his own franchise for he is surely deserving.
-Jonathan

[Erica Stephens]

This for me is great news.I find him the only natural actor on the show,and I am about done with Brothers and Sisters.It began as a story about family within a family business and little by little it drifted into a soap opera of gays,cancer,out of wedlock babies etc etc.These story lines would be fine within the confines of the business struggles.

[bettye198]

We love Rob in this most wonderfully honest show but we support his decision because he is really good in any character and deserves to place himself where the spotlight shines on him. In the last show, he told Kitty he wasn't going anywhere. So his allegiance to his mate is top priority. I believe the ending of his career as a Senator should cast him as a man going through a deep depression and then more heart problems leading to his demise. Nothing else makes any sense.

[Annette]

Oh my, I will be so sad to see him leave the show. I absolutely love him on this show, especially after last nights eposide his interaction with Calista and with Sally are wonderful and he is such a well rounded character. The show will lose alot if he leaves. DONT LET HIM LEAVE, THERE IS NO GOOD WAY.

[Debby]

KEEP ROB LOWE!!

[Cheri]

I think you should do what the soaps do. Replace him with someone else. I don't know if you would get an actor that is as good as him, but you should keep Kitty with Robert even if it means you should just replace him. Soaps do it all the time, even on ABC.

[Edrie O'Brien]

This is too bad. He's been such a pro. I've been a loyal viewer but find it trying that the show has had so many preemptions. It sends a very strong message that the cast and ABC care little about the viewers. Really don't know if I'll keep watching without Lowe, although Field is great too.

[Kira]

NO NO NO!!!!! I LOVE ROB LOWE THE SHOW WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM AND I WAS SO HAPPY HE AND KITTY ARE SO HAPPY TOGETHER AND OH IT MAKES ME AND MY GROUP OF PEOPLE SO SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAD HE IS LEAVING... DON'T LET IT HAPPEN ABC DON'T LET IT HAPPEN

[Marlene]

I can't believe you would even consider letting him go, he is the main reason I watch the show. I love Rob Lowe, he is a great actor, and has it all.... please reconsider writing him out of the show, I know so many people that would miss him so much.

[Marie]

I feel that the only way they can take Rob Lowe's character off the show is to kill him off. There is no way that divorcing them would solve ANYTHING! They already had an entire part where they were having problems with their marriage and they overcame the obstacle. It would be totally redundant if the writers did this. If Rob Lowe's character was to be taken completely off the show, not even for guest appearances, he should still be a par of Kitty's life.

[lance]

Deep depression being Katies first man and no feeling of purpose, then bang suicide.

Or something like... help on a project over seas then taken hostage. Keep him in the story a little bit, then bang he's back one day.

[MARY BETH]

I hate to see Rob leave the show, but thought it was coming. He should have a heart attack and Kitty be by his side he tells her how much he loves her then he peacefully dies. This way the whole walker family can be by Kitty's side and she can win the seat that is vacated by Robert.

[WE]

I predict..he's offered the Vice President's spot on a national ticket (or because the current guy is forced to resign in a scandal) and is summarily shot. This causes Kitty to question her decision to run, but ultimately rescues a troubled candidacy - steeling her resolve, and bringing her brother back to work at her side, though worrying Sally Fields all the more.

Oh, the Walkers!

[Tina B. Tessina]

To me, the only way for Rob to leave would be death. Kitty's grieving would give a lot of plot fodder to the show, and she'd be free to date after she grieves. I've loved them together, but if he's leaving, let him go.

[Ann]

This sucks. I love Rob being a part of the show. I will be very sad to see the show loose such a great actor and piece of the show.

[tonya kirkpatrick]

I am a 41 year old woman who has loved Rob Lowe since St. Elmo's Fire. He is an excellent addition to the Walker clan, and I am devastated at his leaving the show. I must also tell you the Mr. Berlanti is brilliant and that Eli Stone needs to come back to ABC! If you guys are going to take Rob Lowe off of this show, please don't kill him! We all love him too much and the heart attack scene almost did me in. Please have him away taking care of his other children for a while and bring him back sporadically. When this show first began, I liked it, but there was not enough eye candy on there. You guys hit it out of the ballpark with Rob. I was a little upset with all of the bad press Balthazar received regarding Sienna, but once again, you guys did exactly what was needed. If you are in need of another handsome dark haired guy, you should look at J. Eddie Peck who was once on the Young and the Restless. If not for Brothers and Sisters, then Marc Cherry should consider him for Desperate Housewives. ABC is the best network around, I love the job you do, and I will always watch your station. Even when the President speaks on television, it is always ABC in our house. Love you guys and keep up the great work!

[Stacy]

I hate to see Rob leave the show. I love his character! I would like him to leave for an opportunity, and not be killed off so that he can come back now and then. Kitty has gone through so much already, lets not give her a dead husband too.

[John G.]

Well, he is an excellent actor, but if he feels the need to leave, they should have his character get injured and have amnesia, and when they remove the bandages, it will be another actor in the role. Taa daaah - soaps have used that storyline for decades. It's corny and has been done to death, but it would be a way to preserve the character.

[Lish]

Aww i love him and kitty together!
I must admit though, I'd rather him die then them break up, they can't possibly break up now with everything they have been through it would be stupid.
Lish.