Robert Lowery was born Robert Larkin Hanks in Kansas City, Missouri, the only living child of Roscoe Hanks, a renowned Kansas City attorney and oil investor, and Leah Thompson, a concert pianist and organist. He attended local Kansas City schools and graduated from Paseo High School in 1931, establishing a record as an accomplished athlete.
As a multi-talented individual, Lowery played with the old Kansas City Blues baseball team, was a boxer and football player, and even worked at a paper factory in Kansas City after suffering a field injury that left him with a broken pelvis. Following the premature death of his father at 43, Lowery and his mother moved to Los Angeles in the hopes of launching his film and theater career, leveraging his good looks, athletic ability, and outstanding physique.
Lowery enrolled in Lila Bliss' acting school and soon caught the attention of Twentieth Century-Fox after successfully appearing in numerous stage roles in the Los Angeles area. He was signed to Fox in 1938 and quickly appeared in notable films such as Drums Along the Mohawk (1939).
Although he did not gain recognition for his stage work, Lowery did appear in several major theater productions, including "The Caine Mutiny" and "Born Yesterday," alongside his wife, actress Jean Parker. He enjoyed a film and stage career that spanned well into the 1960s, after which he began a second career with Jackie Coogan in a celebrity travel cruise business.
One of Lowery's most notable film appearances was in The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960),alongside Ray Danton, and he delivered a rare but humorous performance as a political hack governor in John Wayne's western comedy McLintock! (1963).
As he matured into middle age, Lowery developed a striking resemblance to Clark Gable. He also appeared extensively in television, including roles in Circus Boy (1956),Playhouse 90 (1956),Hazel (1961),and Pistols 'n' Petticoats (1966),starring Ann Sheridan.
Lowery and his wife, Jean, had one son, Robert, who currently resides in Redondo Beach, California, with his wife Barbara and twin 13-year-old daughters. Lowery passed away on Christmas night in 1971 due to a heart attack, and is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, California. His motto, "Whatever's fair," reflected his lighthearted and humorous approach to life and career, earning him a reputation as a beloved raconteur and humorist among his friends and family.
