History of Joey Lawrence in Timeline

Joseph Lawrence Mignogna III, known professionally as Joseph Lawrence, is a multi-talented American entertainer with a career spanning acting, music, and hosting. He rose to fame as a child actor in the 1980s, notably as Joey Russo in "Blossom" and Joe Longo in "Melissa & Joey." Lawrence's career also includes roles in "Gimme a Break!" and "Brotherly Love," the latter starring alongside his real-life brothers. His film credits include "Summer Rental" and "Oliver & Company." Beyond acting, Lawrence is a musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, podcaster, and game show host.

April 20, 1976: Birth of Joey Lawrence

Joseph Lawrence Mignogna III, known professionally as Joey Lawrence, was born on April 20, 1976.

1981: First Acting Role

Joey Lawrence secured his first acting role at the age of five in a Cracker Jack commercial in 1981.

March 31, 1982: Performance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"

Joey Lawrence, just shy of six years old, showcased his talent on national television by performing "Give My Regards to Broadway" and tap-dancing on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" on March 31, 1982.

1983: Debut on Gimme a Break!

Joey Lawrence landed a significant role as Joey Donovan in the NBC sitcom "Gimme a Break!" in 1983.

1985: Theatrical Debut in "Summer Rental"

Joey Lawrence made his debut on the big screen with the release of the movie "Summer Rental" in 1985.

1987: Conclusion of "Gimme a Break!"

After a successful run, the series "Gimme a Break!", in which Joey Lawrence played a prominent role, concluded in 1987.

1988: Voice Acting in "Oliver & Company"

At the age of 12, Joey Lawrence provided the voice for the main character, Oliver, in the Disney animated film "Oliver & Company" in 1988.

1991: Start of "Blossom"

Joey Lawrence joined the cast of the popular NBC sitcom "Blossom" in 1991, portraying the character of Joey Russo.

February 1993: Debut Album Release

Joey Lawrence, at the age of 16, released his debut album, titled "Joey Lawrence", in February 1993. The album included the hit single "Nothin' My Love Can't Fix."

1994: Graduation from Abington Friends School

Joey Lawrence graduated from Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania in 1994.

1995: End of "Blossom"

Joey Lawrence's time on the successful TV show "Blossom" came to an end in 1995.

2000: Appearance in "Urban Legends: Final Cut"

Joey Lawrence appeared in the horror film "Urban Legends: Final Cut" in 2000.

2002: Marriage to Michelle Vella

Joey Lawrence married Michelle Vella in 2002.

July 2005: Marriage to Chandie Yawn-Nelson

Joey Lawrence married Chandie Yawn-Nelson, whom he met in his teenage years, at Disney World in July 2005.

2005: Divorce from Michelle Vella

Joey Lawrence and Michelle Vella divorced in 2005.

2006: Participation in "Dancing with the Stars"

Joey Lawrence participated in the popular dance competition show "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006, partnering with Edyta Śliwińska. He achieved third place.

May 2007: Broadway Debut in "Chicago"

Joey Lawrence made his debut on Broadway in May 2007, taking on the role of Billy Flynn in the well-known musical "Chicago."

June 9, 2008: Hosting "Master of Dance"

Joey Lawrence began hosting the dance competition show "Master of Dance" on The Learning Channel on June 9, 2008.

2009: Release of "My Fake Fiancé"

Joey Lawrence starred alongside Melissa Joan Hart in the television film "My Fake Fiancé", which premiered on ABC Family in 2009 and became a ratings success.

August 2010: Premiere of "Melissa & Joey"

The ABC Family sitcom "Melissa & Joey," starring Joey Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart, premiered in August 2010.

June 2011: Release of Single "Rolled"

Joey Lawrence released the single "Rolled" in June 2011, making it available as a free download for a limited time.

2012: Chippendales Dancer

Joey Lawrence signed a contract to perform as a Chippendales dancer for a special engagement in Las Vegas in 2012.

March 19, 2013: Co-hosting "Splash"

Joey Lawrence took on the role of co-host, alongside Charissa Thompson, for the ABC reality series "Splash", which premiered on March 19, 2013.

2015: End of "Melissa & Joey"

The sitcom "Melissa & Joey," featuring Joey Lawrence, concluded its run in 2015 after four seasons.

July 2017: Filing for Bankruptcy

Joey Lawrence and Chandie Yawn-Nelson filed for bankruptcy in July 2017.

2017: Formation of Still 3

Joey Lawrence, along with his brothers Matt and Andy, formed the band Still 3 in 2017 and they released their debut single "Lose Myself."

March 2018: Reports of Bankruptcy Filing

News broke out in March 2018 that Joey Lawrence and his wife, Chandie Yawn-Nelson, had filed for bankruptcy in July 2017.

April 6, 2018: Bankruptcy Settlement

Joey Lawrence and Chandie Yawn-Nelson reportedly settled their Chapter 7 bankruptcy case on April 6, 2018.

July 2020: Filing for Divorce from Chandie Yawn-Nelson

Joey Lawrence filed for divorce from Chandie Yawn-Nelson in July 2020.

2022: Marriage to Samantha Cope

Joey Lawrence married actress Samantha Cope, whom he met on the set of a Lifetime movie, in 2022.

2022: Competing on "The Masked Singer"

Joey Lawrence participated in the eighth season of the singing competition show "The Masked Singer" in 2022, performing as "Walrus." He was eliminated in an episode themed "90s Night."