Joey Lawrence Has A Secret And It Starts With His Name

The Lawrence brothers may be one of the most recognizable sibling trios in Hollywood, but at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, they opened up about a lesser-known chapter in their family story, and why they wish they could turn back the clock on their name.

Joey, Matthew, and Andrew Lawrence appeared together on Friday, March 28, at the Connecticut Convention Center, where they joined a panel to chat about their rise to stardom.

During the discussion, Joey Lawrence and his brothers got candid about the origins of their stage name and the complications it has brought into their lives.

“It was my middle name,” Joey said, per People, referring to the surname Lawrence.

Born Joseph Lawrence Mignogna, he explained that the change came early in his acting career. “So I was named after our dad, and our grandfather on our dad’s side,” the actor said.

But in the early ‘80s, industry pressure prompted a shift. “No one can pronounce Mignogna,” he explained. “That’s not a name people will say.”

“Today, things like that are celebrated,” Joey added. “In the ’80s, it was like, ‘We’re going to need to water this down. There are silent Gs.'”

Lawrence became the new professional surname for Joey, and eventually for Matthew and Andrew as they followed him into show business. “It just made sense,” Joey said of the decision to unify their stage identities.

Matthew acknowledged that using a stage name had its perks when they were younger, especially when it came to maintaining a bit of privacy. “There was an insulation factor,” he noted. “Some people might check in old school ways, but it would be very, very hard to find us. That was a great thing.”

But now, the decision has left lingering complications. “Now I’m just stuck with two different names and I can’t travel internationally,” Matthew shared.

All three brothers agreed the name change has created more hassle than they anticipated. “It would have made it easier,” said Andrew. “It’s really a pain in the butt, honestly, like having two names. You have to prove you’re both people.”

Matthew elaborated on the confusion that has plagued his legal identity. “Even for a while there the government only recognized me as Matt Lawrence because I paid taxes from the time I was a toddler to 18 as Matt Lawrence.”

“But really my name is Matthew William Mignogna,” he said. “So when I grew up and used my real name on my passport, there was absolutely no correlation. I didn’t exist.”

The Lawrence brothers’ careers have left a lasting mark on pop culture. Together, they starred as the Roman brothers in the sitcom “Brotherly Love” from 1995 to 1997.

Joey had previously made waves with a leading role on “Blossom” and as the voice of Oliver in Disney’s “Oliver & Company.” Matthew found early success in 1993’s “Mrs. Doubtfire” and later in “Boy Meets World” as Jack Hunter, older brother to Rider Strong’s Shawn. Andrew rose to fame alongside his brothers on “Brotherly Love” and became a fan favorite as the voice of T.J. Detweiler in Disney’s animated series “Recess.”

In 2023, the brothers launched a podcast titled “Brotherly Love,” bringing their dynamic full circle. On it, they reflect on their lives, careers, and the entertainment industry.

“The reason why I was so excited about this podcast is because it was an excuse for me to sit around a table and talk with my brothers and get to hang out with them. It’s something I really enjoy in life,” Andrew told Entertainment Tonight last year.

Hartford’s Connecticut Convention Center is once again rolling out the neon carpet for fans of all things ’90s, as 90s Con returns for its fourth year in the Nutmeg State. The beloved throwback convention has become an annual tradition for those who want to relive the glory days of flannel shirts, frosted tips, and TGIF television.

Running from Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30, 90s Con is bringing together stars from iconic ’90s TV shows, cult-classic movies, and nostalgic music acts that defined the decade.