Joseph Lawrence


Actor

About

Also Known As
Joey Lawrence, Joseph Lawrence Mignona Jr.
Birth Place
Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA
Born
April 20, 1976

Biography

An engaging teen star of 1990s television sitcoms, actor and singer Joey Lawrence became a star thanks to his portrayal of the intellectually challenged, but loveable Joey Russo on the hit series "Blossom" (NBC, 1990-95). Thanks to Russo's dumb charm and catchphrase, "Whoa!," Lawrence was popular among the teenage girl population, which allowed him to branch out into other areas, includi...

Family & Companions

Kellie Martin
Companion
Actor. Lawrence and Martin dated when Lawrence was 17.
Michelle Vella
Wife
Married August 24, 2002; filed for divorce November 2004.

Biography

An engaging teen star of 1990s television sitcoms, actor and singer Joey Lawrence became a star thanks to his portrayal of the intellectually challenged, but loveable Joey Russo on the hit series "Blossom" (NBC, 1990-95). Thanks to Russo's dumb charm and catchphrase, "Whoa!," Lawrence was popular among the teenage girl population, which allowed him to branch out into other areas, including the release of his first album, appropriately titled Joey Lawrence (1993). Once "Blossom" went off the air, he parlayed his popularity into the short-lived sitcom, "Brotherly Love" (NBC/The WB, 1995-97), which showcased real-life brothers Matthew and Andrew. Following two rather forgettable television movies with his brothers, Lawrence settled into a string of mediocre made-for-television movies and feature films that did nothing but dim the light on his career. But in the new millennium, Lawrence rose up again, first appearing in a recurring role for the ambitious drama series, "American Dreams" (NBC, 2002-05). Showing off his dancing ability, he earned third place overall in the third season of the ratings juggernaut "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ), which helped rekindle interest in his celebrity. Now taking on a more adult persona, Lawrence parlayed the rediscovered attention into highly-rated television movies like "My Fake Fiancé" (ABC Family, 2009) and the sitcom "Melissa & Joey" (ABC Family, 2010-15), proving that one can have new life in Hollywood with just a little determination.

Born on April 20, 1976 in Montgomery, PA, Lawrence was raised by his father, Joseph Sr., an insurance broker, and his mother, Donna, who managed the careers of all three sons, including Matthew and Andrew. When he was just three years old, Lawrence began appearing in local commercials and quickly moved on to national spots, including one for Cracker Jack. In 1981, he appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (NBC, 1962-1992), where he sang "Give My Regards to Broadway." The exposure led to playing precocious orphan, Joey, on the popular sitcom "Gimme a Break" (NBC, 1981-87), starring Nell Carter. Lawrence joined the cast during the show's third season and stayed through to its cancellation in 1987. During the show's run, he made his feature debut with a supporting role in the comedy "Summer Rental" (1985), starring John Candy as a hapless father and husband trying to give his family a nice summer vacation. Lawrence next starred as a boy fighting an electrical force trying to take over his home in "Pulse" (1988), which he followed with a supporting role in "Chains of Gold" (1991), as a drug-selling teen saved by a kindhearted social worker (John Travolta).

Lawrence returned to regular series status after landing the role of the intellectually clueless Joey Russo on "Blossom" (NBC, 1990-95), whose catch-line, "Whoa!" entered the cultural lexicon and helped turn him into a star. At the height of his popularity on the show, Lawrence turned back to music and released his first album, Joey Lawrence, which featured the single "Nothin' My Love Can't Fix." Following a cameo in "Radioland Murders" (1994) as a singer crooning Irving Berlin's classic "What'll I Do," he voiced one of the teens in the animated "A Goofy Movie" (1995). Meanwhile, after five seasons of "Blossom," which declined in the ratings over the years, NBC cut ties and cancelled the show. Lawrence remained active, however, starring alongside brothers Matthew and Andrew in "Brotherly Love" (NBC/The WB, 1995-97), a sitcom that pitted the eldest brother (Lawrence) against his stepmother (Claire Roman), while trying to run his late father's auto shop. Meanwhile, Lawrence starred in "Prince for a Day" (NBC, 1995), a contemporary take on Mark Twain's classic, The Prince and the Pauper. Later that season, "Brotherly Love" was cancelled by NBC, only to have fledgling network, The WB, pick up the show and add it to its Sunday night lineup.

The same year that The WB took on "Brotherly Love," the Lawrence brothers starred in "Brothers of the Frontier" (ABC, 1996), a Western set in the Allegheny mountains of the late 1700s, that depicted them as three siblings separated from their parents and forced to contend with a vengeful land baron who runs them off their homestead. In1997, Lawrence made his directorial debut with an episode of "Brotherly Love," only to see the show yanked later that year. He next starred opposite brother Andrew in the Disney Channel Original Movie, "Horse Sense" (1999), which was followed up with a sequel, "Jumping Ship" (2001) that added brother Matthew to the mix. Meanwhile, a more grown-up Lawrence appeared in the cheesy horror movie "Urban Legends: Final Cut" (2000) and co-starred in the low-budget thriller "Do You Wanna Know a Secret?" (2002). Lawrence was next cast on the nostalgic drama series, "American Dreams" (NBC, 2002-05), which was set against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1960s and followed a 15-year-old girl (Brittany Snow) as she pursues her dream of being on "American Bandstand." Lawrence had a recurring role as a producer for the famed dance show.

After playing a detective in the little-seen erotic thriller, "Trois 2: Pandora's Box" (2002), Lawrence returned to regular series work with "Run of the House" (The WB, 2003-04), a sitcom about four siblings living together and running their father's store after the parents leave the cold weather and their children behind in Michigan for the dry heat of Arizona. He next starred in the made-for-television romantic comedy "Love Rules!" (ABC Family, 2004), playing a groom struggling to maintain control over wedding plans with his bride-to-be (Maggie Lawson), leading to both lovers questioning their engagement. The following year, Lawrence, who by this time was going by his given name Joseph, co-starred opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt in "Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber" (2005), a made-for-Oxygen Media movie that depicted him as the gay sidekick of an ambitious young ad executive (Hewitt) determined to do anything to climb the corporate ladder. Taking a turn toward science fiction, he starred as an android stranded in the wilderness with a down-and-out human (Scott Bairstow) after their ship is attacked by mutants in "Android Apocalypse" (Sci-Fi, 2006).

In 2006, Lawrence joined 10 other celebrities for the third season of "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ), a weekly competition pairing professional dancers with inexperienced stars; many of whom having two left feet. Lawrence displayed considerable talent right from the start, earning praise from all three judges (Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli) for his Cha Cha in week one. He continued to impress over the ensuing weeks, while becoming an audience favorite. Lawrence and professional dance partner Edyta Sliwinska placed third in the competition. In a rare stage performance, he made his Broadway debut in the leading role of Billy Flynn in a revival of the always-popular "Chicago" (2007), which he followed up with a hosting gig on another dance competition show, "Master of Dance" (TLC, 2008). Returning to made-for-television movies, he starred opposite Melissa Joan Hart in "My Fake Fiancé" (ABC Family, 2009), in which they played a non-couple who plan a fake wedding in order to make some fast cash, only to find themselves actually falling in love. The ratings success of the pairing led ABC Family to reunite Lawrence and Hart for the sitcom "Melissa & Joey" (2010-15), a sitcom about a wild child-turned-local politician (Hart) whose family becomes embroiled in a scandal, leading to her hiring one of the victims (Lawrence) to be the family's nanny.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

21 Bridges (2019)
A Mother's Greatest Fear (2018)
Saved By Grace (2016)
Hitched for the Holidays (2012)
Android Apocalypse (2006)
PANDORA'S BOX (2002)
Detective Anderson
Desperate But Not Serious (2001)
A Christmas Adventure (2001)
Voice Of Bad Wolf
Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000)
Tequila Body Shots (1999)
Johnny Orpheus
Brothers of the Frontier (1996)
Ethan Frye
A Goofy Movie (1995)
Voice
Prince For a Day (1995)
Ralphie Bitondo; Ricky Prince
Radioland Murders (1994)
Blossom in Paris (1993)
Joey Russo
The 61st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (1992)
Chains of Gold (1991)
Oliver & Company (1988)
Voice
Pulse (1988)
Summer Rental (1985)
Bobby Chester

Music (Feature Film)

Prince For a Day (1995)
Song Performer
Prince For a Day (1995)
Song
Radioland Murders (1994)
Song

Cast (Special)

Bill Bixby: The E! True Hollywood Story (1999)
Interviewee
The 1998 VH1 Fashion Awards (1998)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1996)
1996 American Music Awards (1996)
Performer
Family Film Awards (1996)
Host
The 69th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1995)
1995 American Music Awards (1995)
Presenter
Celebrity First Loves (1995)
The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995)
Presenter
1994 American Music Awards (1994)
Presenter
Before They Were Stars (1994)
The 26th Annual NAACP Image Awards (1994)
Performer
Nickelodeon's 7th Annual Kids' Choice Awards (1994)
Host
An All-New Before They Were Stars (1994)
All That (1994)
American Bandstand's Teen Idols (1994)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1994)
The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards (1993)
Presenter
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve '94 (1993)
Disney's Countdown to Kid's Day (1993)
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories (1993)
The Winans' Real Meaning of Christmas (1993)
Walt Disney World Happy Easter Parade (1993)
Roving Reporter
The Olsen Twins Mother's Day Special (1993)
Circus of the Stars Gives Kids the World (1993)
The 7th Annual American Comedy Awards (1993)
Performer
NBA All-Star Stay in School Jam (1993)
Star-athon '92: A Weekend with the Stars (1992)
Nickelodeon's 6th Annual Kids' Choice Awards (1992)
Presenter
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1991)
Blossom (1990)
Donny
Adventures in Babysitting (1989)
Brad Anderson
Andy Williams and the NBC Kids: Easter in Rome (1987)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1986)
The Wildest West Show of the Stars (1986)
Umbrella Jack (1986)
Don't Touch (1985)
Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa (1985)
Bob Hope Special: Ho Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour (1984)
Little Shots (1983)
Scamps (1982)

Music (Special)

The 69th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1995)
Song Performer
The Olsen Twins Mother's Day Special (1993)
Song Performer
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve '94 (1993)
Song Performer ("I Can'T Help Myself" "Nothin' My Love Can'T Fix")
Andy Williams and the NBC Kids: Easter in Rome (1987)
Song Performer ("One Step")

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Love Rules! (2004)
Jumping Ship (2001)
Horse Sense (1999)
Alvin Goes Back to School (1986)

Producer (TV Mini-Series)

Jumping Ship (2001)
Executive Producer
Horse Sense (1999)
Coproducer

Life Events

1979

Began appearing in commercials at age three

1981

Appeared on "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson", singing, "Give My Regards to Broadway"

1982

TV-movie debut, "Scamps"

1983

TV series debut, "Gimme a Break"

1985

Feature acting debut, "Summer Rental"

1988

Provided the voice of Oliver for Disney's "Oliver & Company"

1993

Released solo album entitled "Joey Lawrence"

1997

Made directing debut with episode of sitcom "Brotherly Love"

2000

Acted in "Urban Legends: The Final Cut"

2002

Landed role on NBC drama "American Dreams"

2003

Starred as Kurt in the WB sitcom "Run of the House"

2006

Joined the third season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"

2007

Made Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in the Broadway revival of "Chicago"

2009

Co-starred with Melissa Joan Hart in the ABC Family romantic comedy "My Fake Fiance"

2010

Re-teamed with Hart to star in the ABC Family series "Melissa & Joey"

Family

Donna Mignona
Mother
Manager. Born c. 1952; manages her three sons' careers.
Joseph Mignona Sr
Father
Insurance-broker. Born c. 1949.
Matthew Lawrence
Brother
Actor. Born c. 1980; appeared on "Gimme a Break" and "Brotherly Love" with Joe.
Andrew Lawrence
Brother
Actor. Born c. 1988; co-starred on "Brotherly Love" with Joe and Matthew.

Companions

Kellie Martin
Companion
Actor. Lawrence and Martin dated when Lawrence was 17.
Michelle Vella
Wife
Married August 24, 2002; filed for divorce November 2004.

Bibliography