Katie Lowes
An actress who brought fierce loyalty and chaotic energy to 'Scandal,' then co-founded a theater company to empower fellow artists.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American actress and theater director·Birthday: September 22·Millennials
Biography
Katie Lowes is far more than the memorable characters she's played on screen. A New York native and graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, she paid her dues in theater and small TV roles before landing the part of Quinn Perkins on Shonda Rhimes's 'Scandal.' As Quinn, she transformed from a wide-eyed intern into a hardened, morally ambiguous operative, delivering a performance that was both terrifying and darkly comic. Off-screen, Lowes channeled her collaborative spirit into founding 'The Hearth,' an artist-driven theater company in Los Angeles with fellow actor Adam Shapiro. This move underscored her commitment to live performance and creating opportunities outside the Hollywood system. Her versatility was later showcased playing real-life figure Rachel DeLoache Williams in 'Inventing Anna,' capturing a very different kind of unraveling. Lowes operates with the heart of a theater director and the precision of a television veteran, building a career on community as much as on character.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Katie was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Katie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Katie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Quinn Perkins across all seven seasons of the hit ABC drama series 'Scandal.'
- Co-founded the Los Angeles-based theater company 'The Hearth' with actor Adam Shapiro.
- Starred as Rachel DeLoache Williams in the Netflix limited series 'Inventing Anna.'
- Directed multiple stage productions for her theater company, fostering new works and talent.
Did You Know?
She is close friends with fellow 'Scandal' cast members Guillermo Díaz and Darby Stanchfield, and they have a group text called 'The Gladiators.'
She met her husband, actor Adam Shapiro, while performing in a stage production of 'The Scene.'
She is a trained singer and has performed in musical theater productions.
She voiced a character in the Disney animated film 'Frozen II.'
“Theater is my first love. It's where I feel most at home, and it's why I started a theater company.”
