'Something happened' to Chad Lowe's daughter Fiona, 13, after 'losing everything' in Palisades fire, says family friend… as sister gives shattering tribute

Standing in a striped technicolor raincoat, a young Fiona Lowe enthusiastically gushed about the pressing issue every child inevitably faces: picking a favorite color.

'Well, I like three colors,' she stated matter-of-factly, 'but my really favorite color is light pink, like the color of new ballet shoes.'

The old video, shared Sunday by her sister Mabel, was a poignant reminder of the contagious effervescence for which Fiona, daughter of actor Chad Lowe and casting director Kim Painter, is remembered after her death at age 13 last week.

Emergency services responded to the Lowe family's Los Angeles home at 12.10am on September 29 and the teen was transported to a local hospital where she was declared dead. Her death was subsequently ruled a suicide by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.

In a statement announcing her death last week, the Lowe family described their heartbreak at the loss of 'a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance.' They also urged anyone struggling with mental health to reach out to the suicide prevention helpline.

'She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents,' the statement continued. 'In fact, she was the light of our lives.'

Music executive Mykesha Robinson, whose daughter Faith was best friends with Fiona in elementary school, remembers Fiona as 'a ray of light,' telling the Daily Mail: 'She was that girl. She was not shy. She would go up and talk to anybody.'

Robinson said Faith and Fiona met on the first day of school at Palisades Charter Elementary School, located in the Pacific Palisades.

The young girls soon became so close they earned the moniker 'FiFi' and were 'two peas in a pod.'

'Faith had a tough time integrating,' Robinson recalled. 'It was kind of just really tough for her.

'And Fiona just came up to her and was like, "Hey, do you want to be friends? Do you want to go jump rope?" And Faith's like, "Yeah." So they hit it off really good.'

Fiona, she added, was 'sweet,' 'loving' and 'so kind,' describing the Lowes as a picture-perfect family living a dream life in affluent West Los Angeles.

Fiona was the middle child of Chad and Kim, who also share daughters Mabel, 17, and ten-year-old Nixie. Chad married Kim in 2010 after the end of his first marriage to actress Hilary Swank in 2007.

Robinson – founder of the World Music Commission and owner of Hollywood Hills Records – described 58-year-old Chad as 'really nice' and down-to-earth, despite his Hollywood pedigree.

Meanwhile, Robinson said Kim, 52, was a hands-on mom who was always present at the school.

'She did a lot of service work and volunteering on campus,' Robinson recalled. 'So she was like the class historian and she took all the photos of the kids. She went to all the events. I mean, she literally was on campus every single day.

'And I tell you what, coming from somebody who's raised their kids as a single mom, it was really nice to be able to have a friend that you can count on.'

Ultimately, after graduating from Palisades Charter, Fiona and Faith went to different middle schools and lost touch.

Last year, however, the Lowe family's home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire that ripped through the wealthy coastal enclave located between Santa Monica and Malibu and displaced the entire community. The blaze also destroyed a majority of the school Fiona and Faith had attended together.

The blaze, which was driven by extremely powerful Santa Ana winds, spread to 37-square-miles as it killed 12 people and destroyed 6,837 structures. It is the tenth-deadliest and third-most destructive California wildfire on record.

'Something happened when the fires happened,' Robinson said. 'They lost everything.'

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Chad posted a series of photos on Instagram of his three daughters in protective masks and shoe coverings standing in the wreckage of their Pacific Palisades home.

'Almost a month after we evacuated our girls finally got to go back to see what's left of their home,' he wrote in February 2025.

'The way they've handled this whole devastating experience is nothing short of remarkable. I am in awe of their spirit and resilience. Helping them navigate these tough times is my sole purpose. Being their dad is my life's greatest joy and privilege.'

Robinson believed the Palisades Fire and subsequent displacement would have been extremely traumatic for the young girl.

'I've been in buckets of tears over the situation,' Robinson said, adding that she learned about Fiona's death on social media and has not heard back from Kim since reaching out.

She also shared that, just two weeks ago, Faith created an Instagram account and had requested to follow her old best friend Fiona to reconnect, but it was never accepted. She recalled her young daughter's concern at the time, saying that Faith had told her: 'I hope she's not mad at me. I hope I didn't do something wrong.'

On Saturday, Mabel posted a tribute to her younger sister, writing, in part: 'I wish your short time here was easier and I hope your mind is at ease now. I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive. I love you, I hope you knew just how much.'

She also shared a series of photos and videos of her sister, such as playing on the beach, dressing up in costumes or posing at what appeared to be a ballet photoshoot. She also reposted a tribute made by Fiona's dance teacher, Kendra Andrews, who shared various videos of Fiona practicing her routine to the Taylor Swift song The Archer.

'Your passion and determination were incredibly beautiful to witness,' she wrote, in part, conveying her 'pride' and 'joy' at watching the teen's dramatic improvement.

'FiFi, I love you more than words can convey. It was an honor to teach you, laugh with you, and watch you grow. Our hearts are shattered. We will never be the same without you here. I will miss you and love you forever.'

Dance, it seemed, was central to Fiona's life. When she finally entered teenhood last November, Chad, as any proud father would, gushed about his daughter's milestone on Instagram.

'Celebrating Fiona officially becoming a teen today!! Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!' he wrote alongside a photo of Fiona.

Ten months later, the post carries a much more somber weight.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org