Many legendary actors of the Golden Age of Hollywood have bestowed their life wisdom upon new and upcoming actors. Cary Grant is one of the greats who had a rather strange, though certainly helpful, piece of advice for the young Rob Lowe as he was just starting out in his acting career. The advice was so resonant that Lowe said in an interview on CONAN that he’s never eaten a hotdog in public since.
Lowe was in middle school with Grant’s daughter
Lowe’s mother moved the family to Malibu in 1976 when he was just 12 years old. At that time, Lowe was already identifying himself as an awkward theater kid. However, as he grew older, he became more confident and really found his groove in wooing the ladies. By the age of 14, Lowe was already bagging babes on the beach for his birthday.
While he attended middle school, he had his eyes set on one particular classmate – Cary Grant’s daughter Jennifer Grant. Working his charm, the two began dating in the 1980s and he was eventually invited to Jennifer’s house where Lowe first met the legendary actor. Grant greeted the young man in a white bathrobe, of all things. Not particularly knowledgeable about Grant’s brilliant career, Lowe recalled, “I was kind of like, ‘who’s this crazy old man,’ I was just trying to bang his daughter.”
They watched his first on-screen effort together
As if meeting his girlfriend’s legendary actor father wasn’t pressure enough, Lowe’s first on-screen appearance was airing while he was at the Grant residence. Lowe, Cary Grant, and Jennifer gathered around the television to view the young actor’s skills.
Lowe explained what a surreal experience it was for him. “My very first thing on television was going to air that day. The first time I ever saw myself on TV was with Cary Grant,” he recalled. His acting skills seemed to have impressed Grant for the most part, as he complimented Lowe on the performance and likened him to a young Warren Beatty.
Grant had some strange advice
Lowe explained that Grant was full of wisdom and advice which he was more than willing to share with the young actor as he began a career in Hollywood. During the Conan interview, Lowe recalled one particular tip that stuck out to him that day.
“…[H]e was full of great advice,” Lowe said. “Not the least of which was, ‘Young man, don’t ever eat a hot dog on a dais.’ I was like, ‘What?’ He goes, ‘Well then because there will be a picture of you with a hot dog in your mouth.'” This was Grant’s way of advising Lowe to avoid situations where an awkward photograph could be taken by paparazzi or fans and used out of context.
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Lowe said that to this day, he will not consume a hot dog while in public, all thanks to Grant’s advice.