Rob Lowe regrets losing 'massive' role to Tom Cruise

Rob Lowe lifts the lid on what he had to face in his career because of fame

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Published September 06, 2026
Rob Lowe regrets losing 'massive' role to Tom Cruise

Rob Lowe opened up about being extremely unlucky in his career.

The New York Post published the 62-year-old American actor’s interview on Saturday, September 5, where he opened up about losing several hit roles to Tom Cruise in the 1980s and 1990s.

Lowe told the outlet, “That dastardly Tom Cruise was always a nemesis. I remember reading Jerry Maguire ... and they were like, ‘Tom Cruise.' I also remember reading Top Gun and going, ‘Oh, this movie is going to be f****** massive.’ They were like, ‘Tom Cruise.’”

He went on to reflect on rumors that he was looking for to land the Ferris Bueller role in the 1986 American comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which Matthew Broderick successfully secured, claiming that he was never in the race for the famous teen slacker.

The 9-1-1: Lone Star alum stated that the film’s director John Hughes never showed his interest in casting him in any of his projects.

Lowe said, "John Hughes never got what I was selling. I met with John once and it's not like he didn't have a lot of parts I could have done. When you really look at it, there were more than a few parts, multiple parts in some movies. Never. Phone never rang."

The Parks and Recreation star shared that Hughes had always been big on promoting new faces and he was “already too well known,” which became a key reason for him losing iconic roles.

"He made people well known. At least that's what I tell myself to make myself feel better for not getting a role in The Breakfast Club,” Rob Lowe stated.

Areeba Sheikh
Areeba Sheikh is a reporter specialising in trending topics, with a focus on music, entertainment culture, and viral moments. For the past two years she has been covering wide artists, releases, and digital conversations, blending storytelling with trend analysis to capture how online buzz, fandom, and pop culture shape global audience engagement.
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