Joseph Lawrence Mignogna, Jr., known professionally as Joseph "Joey" Lawrence, is an American
actor, singer, and game show host.
He is known for his roles as Joey Donovan in the TV series Gimme a Break!, Joey Russo
in Blossom, Joe Roman in Brotherly Love, and as Joe Longo in Melissa & Joey.
Early life Lawrence was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
the son of Donna Mignogna, a personnel manager and former elementary school teacher, and
Joseph Lawrence Mignogna, Sr., an insurance broker.
He is of half Italian descent.
His family's surname was changed to "Lawrence" during his childhood.
He has two younger brothers, Matthew and Andrew, who are also actors.
He graduated from Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, in 1994, and
later attended the University of Southern California.
Career Acting
Lawrence's first acting role was in a Cracker Jack commercial.
At the age of five, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he performed
the song "Give My Regards to Broadway".
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.
Lawrence provided the voice of Oliver, the protagonist in the 1988 Disney film Oliver
& Company.
From 1991 to 1995, Lawrence co-starred in the hit TV series Blossom, in which he played
Joey Russo.
Lawrence has also starred in the series Brotherly Love 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 in which he costarred with Jennifer
Morrison, Matthew Davis, and Hart Bochner.
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 The Learning Channel, Master of Dance, which
premiered June 9, 2008.
In 2009, Lawrence starred in the television movie My Fake Fiancé with Melissa Joan Hart,
which premiered on ABC Family to 3.6 million viewers, becoming the most-watched television
movie of the ratings 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 Melissa Joan 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 have 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 Scanlan's teacher, Evan McKay.
As of 2014, the series has been renewed for its fourth season.
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.
He is co-host alongside Charissa Thompson.
Music Lawrence has said 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.
Produced by Steve Barri, Tony Peluso, Terry Lupton, Ian Prince and Teddy Riley, Lawrence
co-wrote some material, including the international hit single "Nothin' My Love Can't Fix".
The song was used as the end-title theme from the movie Cop and a Half; its music video
received heavy airplay on MTV and MuchMusic, and Lawrence was invited to perform live on
MTV's Spring Break, The Arsenio Hall Show, and the UK's Top of the Pops in 1993.
In July 2008, Lawrence told TV Guide that he was working on a new album composed mostly
of ballads.
In June 2011, he released his new single entitled Rolled, which was available as a free download
for one week on ABCFamily's website.
In July, Joey released a second single, "Give It To Ya" via Pledge Music.
Personal life Lawrence married Michelle Vella in 2002; the
couple divorced in 2004.
He met his second wife, Chandie Yawn-Nelson, while on vacation in Disney World when the
two were teenagers; they married there 13 years later, in July 2005.
The couple have two daughters, born 2006 and 2010.
Filmography Discography
Albums 1993: Joey Lawrence
1997: Soulmates Singles
1993: "Nothin' My Love Can't Fix" US Promo CD
Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 3:59 Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 4:00
Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 4:24 Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 3:40
Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 5:13 Europe Maxi-CD
Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 4:06 Nothin' My Love Can't Fix [D Abraham Slam
Mix] 4:02 Nothin' My Love Can't Fix [D Abraham Alternate
Extended Mix] 5:13 1993: "Stay Forever"
US Maxi-CD Stay Forever 4:04
Stay Forever 4:05 Stay Forever 3:45
Stay Forever 3:57 UK Maxi-CD
Stay Forever 4:22 I Can't Help Myself4:05
I Can't Help Myself4:01 Joey Interview 5:08
1993: "I Can't Help Myself" UK Maxi-CD
I Can't Help Myself 4:25 Joey Lawrence Interview 4:15
Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 3:59 Nothin' My Love Can't Fix 4:00
1997: "Ven Ven Conmigo" US Single
Ven Ven Conmigo Never Gonna Change My Mind
1997: "Never Gonna Change My Mind" UK CD
Never Gonna Change My Mind 3:45 UK Maxi-CD
Never Gonna Change My Mind 4:05 Never Gonna Change My Mind 3:59
Never Gonna Change My Mind 8:57 2011: "Rolled"
2011: "Give It To Ya" References
External links Official website
Joey Lawrence at the Internet Broadway Database Joey Lawrence at the Internet Movie Database
Joey Lawrence discography at Discogs