Rob Lowe and Melissa Gilbert share a significant, primarily professional connection rooted in early 1980s Hollywood, particularly through their mutual involvement with S.E. Hinton adaptations and their association with the "Brat Pack" era. Here are the key facts:

Casting Connections

• The Outsiders Auditions (1982): Both auditioned intensely for Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation. Lowe was cast as Sodapop Curtis. Gilbert auditioned for Cherry Valance, but lost the role to Diane Lane.
• Shared S.E. Hinton Link: Gilbert landed the lead role of Kathy in Coppola's subsequent Hinton adaptation, "Rumble Fish" (1983), filmed back-to-back with "The Outsiders". While Lowe wasn't in "Rumble Fish", their paths overlapped intensely during this Coppola/Hinton period at the same studios/locations.

Social Sphere & "Brat Pack" Scene

• Overlapping Friend Groups: As prominent young stars, they moved in similar circles. Lowe was a core member of the emerging "Brat Pack" (Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, etc.). Gilbert, dating fellow Brat Packer Andrew McCarthy in the mid-80s and sister-in-law to Rob Reiner (linked to the group), was often adjacent to this scene.
• Shared Events: They attended the same premieres, parties, and industry events throughout the 80s, documented in contemporaneous press coverage.

Publicized Interaction & Perception

• Famous Vanity Fair Cover (1985): Lowe posed on the iconic "Hollywood's Royal Family" cover with other Brat Pack stars. Gilbert appeared alongside them in the corresponding feature article photoshoot, visually cementing their connection within that specific Hollywood moment.
• Public Rivalry Mention: Lowe humorously recounted in his memoir, "Stories I Only Tell My Friends" (2011), that Gilbert viewed him as "public enemy number one" during the intense "Outsiders" casting period due to their direct competition for roles/attention.
• Mutual Respect: Despite the competitive casting environment mentioned by Lowe, Gilbert has often spoken respectfully of him in various interviews over the years, acknowledging his talent and the unique intensity of their shared professional experiences during that era.

Their connection is less about deep personal friendship and more about being central players in the same specific, high-profile Hollywood nexus during a formative period for both - defined by Coppola films, S.E. Hinton adaptations, the rise of the Brat Pack, and intense young stardom.