Despite childhood stardom, the siblings credit their grounded upbringing to their parents’ wisdom.
The Lawrence brothers—Joey, Matthew, and Andrew—took center stage at 90s Con in Daytona on Friday, Sept. 13, reflecting on their journey from child stars to enduring figures in Hollywood. During a panel moderated by PEOPLE’s Dory Jackson, the trio discussed their strong family bond, their hit sitcom Brotherly Love, and how their parents kept them humble despite early fame.
Joey Lawrence, now 48, first entered the spotlight at just six years old, performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Reflecting on their upbringing, he credited their stability and success to a supportive family structure. “Our parents were amazing,” Joey said. “We had our grandparents around a lot, and we were always surrounded by family. The work was treated like a hobby—just like travel baseball or sports. It was never our whole life.”
Joey went on to explain how their mother helped maintain a sense of normalcy. “She kept me in private school in Philly, and when Andy was born, she took Matt and me out of the business for three years. Our lives were lived outside of show business,” he shared. “That perspective helped us understand that success or failure in the industry didn’t define our worth as human beings.”
In fact, despite their rising fame, Joey and Matthew shared a bedroom until Joey was 16, complete with bunk beds. “I think Joe had enough when I convinced Mom to get a dog, and the dog started sleeping in the room with me,” Matthew, now 44, recalled with a laugh.
Joey added with a grin, “There were other things too. I was 16—I needed some space.”
The brothers starred as the fictional Roman siblings on Brotherly Love, which aired from 1995 to 1997. The show saw Joey’s character return home to help run the family business after their father’s death. Though short-lived, the series solidified the trio’s popularity and left an indelible mark on fans. The brothers have since reunited to host a Brotherly Love podcast, which launched last year.
Ahead of the convention, Joey faced personal challenges, as his wife Samantha Cope filed for divorce on Aug. 20, citing their separation date as June 7. Joey publicly addressed rumors of infidelity involving his Socked In for Christmas co-star Melina Alves, denying the accusations and calling his marriage to Cope “deeply troubled” from the start.
“My short-lived marriage was filled with difficulties from the beginning. Our differences became insurmountable,” Joey said in a statement on Instagram. He further explained that his two daughters from a previous marriage, Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14, were not accepted by Cope as part of his family, a key factor in the breakup.
Cope responded with her own statement, refuting the claims. “As a mother who values her daughter above all else, I find these accusations deeply troubling,” she told PEOPLE. “The truth is known to me, Joey, and God.”
Joey’s appearance at 90s Con marked his first public event since the divorce.
Matthew Lawrence, who starred in Mrs. Doubtfire and Boy Meets World, also went through a public split, divorcing Dancing with the Stars pro Cheryl Burke in 2022 after three years of marriage. He is currently dating TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.
Andrew Lawrence, the youngest of the trio at 36, followed in his brothers’ footsteps, landing roles in Hawaii Five-0 and Disney Channel’s Recess.
Looking back on their careers, Joey spoke fondly of the fanbase they built during their Brotherly Love days. “Those fans are still there,” he said. “They’re just in their mid-30s now. It’s been a wild journey with ups and downs, but 41 years later, I still feel like I have so much more to achieve, and I’m driven to get there.”
90s Con Florida continues through Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., where fans of 90s pop culture can reconnect with their favorite stars.