An engaging teen star of 1990s TV sitcoms, Lawrence is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the dumb yet lovable Joey Russo on NBC's hit series "Blossom" (1991-95). The popularity of his character with mall denizens supplanted that of the aging high-schoolers of "Beverly Hills, 90210". A more authentic teenager, Lawrence's character worried more about his complexion than the credit limit on his Gold Card. His 1993 debut album, "Joey Lawrence", only escalated the adoration. His subsequent sitcom, "Brotherly Love" (NBC, 1995-96; The WB, 1996-97), showcased a more mature Lawrence as he played the older half-brother to real life siblings Matthew and Andrew.
Lawrence began appearing in local commercials at age three and quickly moved on to national commercials and "The Tonight Show", where he sang "Give My Regards to Broadway" on a 1981 installment of the late-night show. This exposure led to the role of Joey, a precocious orphan, on the popular sitcom "Gimme a Break" starring Nell Carter (NBC, 1983-87). Lawrence went on to make guest appearances on other episodics, before landing the role of the
ctually clueless Joey Russo on "Blossom", whose catch-line was a clipped "Whoa!" The actor became one of the top teen idols in America and translated that into a hit album which included the single, "Nothin' My Love Can't Fix". NBC hired him and his siblings for "Brotherly Love", but canceled the sitcom after one season. The fledgling The WB network picked up the series and added it to its Sunday night line-up. In 1995, Lawrence starred in a "Prince for a Day", an NBC TV-movie inspired by the Mark Twain classic "The Prince and the Pauper", and the following year, he joined his brothers in the Western adventure "Brothers of the Frontier" (ABC).
Lawrence has not established himself in features as readily as in TV. He began in films playing John Candy's son in "Summer Rental" (1985), then was a boy fighting an electrical force trying to take over his home in "Pulse" (1988). In "Chains of Gold" (1990), he was a drug-selling teen saved by John Travolta. Lawrence provided a pleasant cameo in "Radioland Murders" (1994) as a singer (crooning Irving Berlin's classic "What'll I Do"). He has also provided character voices in animated films, including the kitten Oliver in "Oliver and Company" (1988), based on the Charles Dickens classic, and one of the teen voices in "A Goofy Movie" (1995). A more grown-up Lawrence appeared in the cheesy horror movie "Urban Legends: Final Cut" (2000).
A streak of TV Movies and forgettable film roles ended in 2002 when Lawrence was cast in the promising NBC drama "American Dreams." Set against the backdrop of the tumultous 1960's, the ambitious series follows a young girl's dream to be on American
lassic "What'll I Do"). He has also provided character voices in animated films, including the kitten Oliver in "Oliver and Company" (1988), based on the Charles Dickens classic, and one of the teen voices in "A Goofy Movie" (1995). A more grown-up Lawrence appeared in the cheesy horror movie "Urban Legends: Final Cut" (2000).
A streak of TV Movies and forgettable film roles ended in 2002 when Lawrence was cast in the promising NBC drama "American Dreams." Set against the backdrop of the tumultous 1960's, the ambitious series follows a young girl's dream to be on American
