Joseph Lawrence Mignogna III (born April 20, 1976) is an American actor, musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, podcaster, and game show host. He was a child actor in the early 1980s and portrayed Joey Russo in Blossom (1991–95) and Joe Longo in Melissa & Joey (2010–15). Lawrence also starred in Gimme a Break! (1983–87) and the series Brotherly Love with his real-life brothers Matthew and Andrew. His film appearances include Summer Rental (1985) and Oliver & Company (1988).
Early life Lawrence was born on April 20, 1976, and raised in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He is the eldest son of Donna Lynn (), a personnel manager and former elementary school teacher, and Joseph Lawrence Mignogna Jr., an insurance broker. He is of Italian and British descent. His family's surname was changed to "Lawrence" during his childhood when he started acting. He has two younger brothers, actors Matthew and Andrew.
Lawrence graduated from Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, in 1994 and later attended the University of Southern California film school.
Career Acting In 1981, when he was five years old, Lawrence landed his first acting role in a Cracker Jack commercial. Three weeks before turning age six, he appeared on the March 31, 1982, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he performed the song "Give My Regards to Broadway" and tap danced.
After appearing in guest spots on Diff'rent Strokes and Silver Spoons, Lawrence won the role of Joey Donovan on the hit NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! in 1983. He continued in that role until the series ended in 1987. 1985 marked Lawrence's theatrical debut with the release of Summer Rental. Lawrence provided the voice of Oliver, the protagonist in the animated 1988 Disney film Oliver & Company at the age of 12. From 1991, at the age of 15, to 1995, Lawrence co-starred in the hit TV series Blossom on NBC, playing Joey Russo.
Lawrence has also starred in the series Brotherly Love (which featured his real-life brothers, Matthew and Andrew Lawrence) and Run of the House and has guest starred on such programs as American Dreams and CSI: NY. One of Lawrence's film credits is Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000).
In 2006, Lawrence appeared on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Paired with professional dancer Edyta Śliwińska, he placed third in the competition.
In May 2007, he starred in the Broadway hit Chicago as Billy Flynn. He next hosted a dance competition show on TLC, Master of Dance, which premiered June 9, 2008.Master of Dance , tlc.discovery.com; accessed March 20, 2017.
In 2009, Lawrence starred in the television film My Fake Fiancé with Melissa Joan Hart, which premiered on ABC Family with 3.6 million viewers, becoming the most-watched television film the rating season, sweeping top rank in its time period in key demos. In August 2010, Lawrence returned to television in the ABC Family sitcom Melissa & Joey, again opposite Hart. Hart plays a woman who hires Lawrence as a nanny to help care for her incarcerated sister's kids. Lawrence's character is a former figure in the financial industry whose company came under investigation for wrongdoing and caused his professional life to be put on hold. Lawrence's brothers guest-starred on the show. Matthew Lawrence played Tony Longo in season 1 episode 25 and Andrew Lawrence appeared in season 1 episode 26 as Ryder Scanlon's teacher, Evan McKay. The series was renewed for its fourth season and ended in 2015.
In 2012, he was contracted to be a Chippendales dancer for a special engagement in June at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. On March 19, 2013, Lawrence began appearing in the ABC reality show Splash, co-hosting alongside Charissa Thompson.
In 2022, Lawrence competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as "Walrus". He was eliminated on "90s Night" alongside Le'Veon Bell as "Milkshake".
In August 2023, Lawrence resurfaced his Blossom catchphrase, "Whoa!", by starring in a VinFast's VF8 ad campaign, covered by Automotive News and Ad Age. In December of the same year, Lawrence reprised his role in a second installment of VinFast's "Changing Lanes" campaign.
In 2025, Lawrence co-created the graphic novel The Lawrence Brothers Detective Agency alongside his brothers Matthew Lawrence and Andrew Lawrence, and writers Ben Berkowitz and Max Berkowitz, known as the Berkowitz Brothers. The project, published by Z2 Comics with artwork by Sean Von Gorman, reimagines the brothers as fictional detectives in a story inspired by The Hardy Boys, Scooby-Doo, and 1990s pop culture. The graphic novel releases in September 2026.
Music career Lawrence has stated that music was always his passion, and at the height of his success began a recording career. Lawrence was 16 when his debut album Joey Lawrence was released in February 1993. It was produced by Steve Barri, Tony Peluso, Terry Lupton, and Ian Prince. Lawrence co-wrote some material, including the international hit single "Nothin' My Love Can't Fix" (#6 Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, No. 10 Billboard Top 40 Mainstream, No. 19 Billboard Hot 100, No. 13 United Kingdom, No. 68 Australia). The song was used as the end-title theme for the film Cop and a Half; its music video received heavy airplay on MTV and Canadian MuchMusic, and Lawrence was invited to perform live on MTV Spring Break, The Arsenio Hall Show, and BBC's Top of the Pops in 1993.
In June 2011, he released a single, "Rolled", which was available as a free download for one week on ABC Family's website. In July, Lawrence released a second single, "Give It to Ya (Acoustic)" via Pledge Music. In 2017, Lawrence started a band with Matt and Andy called Still 3. They released their debut single "Lose Myself".
Podcasting In 2023, Joey launched a podcast called "Brotherly Love Podcast" with his brothers Andrew and Matthew. It was launched through PodCo, a podcast studio launched by former Disney Channel actress Christy Carlson Romano and focused on rewatches of completed television series by their former actors.
Personal life Lawrence married Michelle Vella in 2002, but divorced in 2005.
He originally met his second wife, Chandie Yawn-Nelson at Walt Disney World when the two were teenagers. They later wed there in July 2005, and have two daughters together. Reports surfaced in March 2018 that Lawrence and Yawn-Nelson had filed for bankruptcy in July 2017. On April 6, 2018, the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case was reportedly settled. Lawrence filed for divorce in July 2020. Their divorce was finalized in February 2022.
In 2022, Lawrence married actress Samantha Cope whom he met on the set the Lifetime television film A Deadly Deed, directed by his brother Andrew and co-starring his daughter Charleston. The couple has one daughter, born in 2023. On August 13, 2024, Cope filed for divorce. In December 2024, it was announced that the couple had reconciled and had their divorce filing dismissed. The couple had a second child, a son born in 2026.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1985Summer RentalBobby Chester1988PulseDavid RocklandOliver & CompanyOliverVoice role1991Chains of GoldTommy1994Radioland MurdersFrankie Marshall1995A Goofy MovieChadVoice role1999 Tequila Body ShotsJohnny Orpheus2000Urban Legends: Final CutGraham ManningDesperate But Not SeriousDarby2001Do You Wanna Know a Secret?Hank Ford A Christmas Adventure ...From a Book Called Wisely's TalesWolfpack LeaderDirect to video film; voice role2002Trois 2: Pandora's BoxDet. Anderson2006Rest StopOfficer Michael DeaconDirect to video film2008Killer PadJoey Lawrence Together Again for the First TimeCarey KrzyznykDirect to video film2010Sinatra ClubLouie 'Pipes' Pepitone2011Hit ListLyle2016 Saved by GraceRick Emma's ChanceKevin Chambers Arlo: The Burping PigDavid Isle of the DeadLt. Paul Gibson2017Girl FollowedJim2018Sk8 DawgMr. Hoffman2019Roe v. WadeRobert Byrn2020Money PlaneThe Concierge My Brother's KeeperPreach Pardoned by GraceScott Highberger2020 The Office Mix-UpMikey2021Mistletoe MixupTom2023Frankie Meets JackJack ShawAlso writer and executive producer2024Marry ChristmasTom Wright Also executive producer
Television Year Title Role Notes1982ScampsSparkyTelevision filmDiff'rent StrokesJoeyEpisode: "Big Brother"Silver SpoonsJoey ThompsonEpisode: "The Best Christmas Ever"1983Little ShotsPeteTelevision filmWait till Your Mother Gets Home!Chris Peters1983–1987Gimme a Break!Joey DonovanMain role1984 Young People's SpecialsBillyEpisode: "Umbrella Jack"1985ABC Afterschool SpecialMattieEpisode: "Don't Touch"1989Adventures in BabysittingBrad AndersonUnsold TV pilot1990–1995BlossomJoey RussoMain role1993Olsen Twins Mother's Day SpecialSingerTV specialAlmost HomeJeff ThorntonEpisode: "Girls and Boy"Empty NestWadeEpisode: "Aunt Verne Knows Best"1995Carly's BrotherEpisode: "Whipping Post"Something WilderJ.J. TravisEpisode: "Bergman of Alcatraz"Prince for a DayRalph Bitondo / Ricky PrinceTelevision filmWheel of FortuneHimselfEpisode #2398: Celebrity Week 1995–1997Brotherly LoveJoe RomanMain role 1996Brothers of the FrontierEthan FryeTelevision film1999Touched by an AngelJesseEpisode: "Fool for Love"Horse SenseMichael WoodsTelevision film; also co-producerRecessFranklin DudikoffVoice role; episode: "The Dude"2001Jumping ShipMichael WoodsTelevision film2002Romantic Comedy 101Mark GibsonDex FinleyVoice role; episode: "Eye of the Storm"2002–2003American DreamsMichael BrooksRecurring role2003–2004Run of the HouseKurt FranklinMain role2004 Love Rules!Michael WarnerTelevision film2005BowMattConfessions of a Sociopathic Social ClimberFerguson2005–2006Half & HalfBrett MahoneyRecurring role2006Android ApocalypseDeeCeeTelevision film2007CSI: NYClay Dobson3 episodes2007–2008Dirk BrockVoice role2009My Fake FiancéVinceTelevision film2010–2015Melissa & JoeyJoe LongoMain role2011Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelfEpisode: Jan 1, 2011ZeusTelevision film2012Hitched for the HolidaysRob Marino The Dog Who Saved the HolidaysZeus2013SplashHimselfCo-host2015Celebrity Family FeudHimselfEpisode: "Lawrence vs Lopez"2016Cupcake WarsHimselfContestant: runner-up2017–2019Hawaii Five-0Aaron Wright4 episodes2018A Mother's Worst FearBrentTelevision film2019Celebrity Big BrotherHimselfContestant / Houseguest: 9th placeDollfaceHimselfEpisode: "Mystery Brunette"2021Danger ForceEpisode: "Vidja Games" My Husband's Secret BrotherKevinTelevision film2022 Call Me Kat Himself The Masked Singer Himself/Walrus Season 8 contestant; Episode: "90s Night"2023 Love by Design Hal Hartley UP TV Movie 2026Totally 90s HouseHimself Contestant (replacement for Melissa Joan Hart)
Dancing with the Stars Week # Dance / Song Judges' scores Result Inaba Goodman Tonioli 1 Cha-Cha-Cha / "I Like the Way (You Move)" 7 7 7 Safe 2 Quickstep / "I Got Rhythm" 10 9 10 Safe 3 Jive / "Blue Suede Shoes" 8 6 8 Safe 4 Waltz / "Take It to the Limit" 9 9 9 Safe 5 Samba / "Freedom! '90" 8 8 9 Safe 6 Rumba / "Father Figure" 8 8 8 Bottom two Group Disco / "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" No scores given 7 Foxtrot / "Singin' in the Rain" 10 9 10 Safe Mambo / "Mambo No. 5" 9 9 10 8Semi-finals Tango / "The Addams Family Theme" 10 9 9 Safe Paso Doble / "Sympathy for the Devil" 9 8 9 9Finals Quickstep / "42nd Street" 9 10 10 Third place Rumba / "Eternal Flame" 10 10 10
Commercial VinFast: "Whoa" - VinFast VF8 "Changing Lanes" Campaign (US Debut, August 2023) VinFast: "Whoa 2"- VinFast VF8 "Changing Lanes" Campaign (US, December 2023)
Theater Chicago (2007) as Billy Flynn (replacement)
Discography Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak positions US AUS N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. CAN UK Joey Lawrence Released: February 2, 1993 Label: Impact/MCA 741912539 Soulmates Released: September 16, 1997 Label: Curb ————
Extended plays TitleExtended play details Imagine Released: August 28, 2017 Label: Entertainment A&R Media Guilty Released: February 10, 2022