The Lawrence brothers — Matthew, Joey, and Andrew — made a special appearance at the 90s Con convention in Hartford, Conn., on Friday, March 28, where they discussed their names and acting careers. The panel, moderated by PEOPLE’s Dory Jackson, delved into how they got their last name “Lawrence” instead of their original surname, Mignogna.
The brothers explained that Joey, who was born Joseph Lawrence Mignogna, chose to use his middle name due to the difficulty in pronouncing Mignogna. In the 1980s, it was considered a challenge for people to say the full name. However, with time, the stigma has disappeared, and they now celebrate their unique names.
The brothers decided that using “Lawrence” as their surname would provide them with more privacy during their off-screen lives. Matthew pointed out that having two different names made it harder for people to find them internationally. Andrew expressed frustration about having two names, stating that it’s a pain in the butt and requires him to prove his identity twice.
The brothers got their start in show business together as children stars, starring in the sitcom Brotherly Love from 1995 to 1997. They have since pursued successful acting careers, with Joey appearing on Blossom, Matthew receiving recognition for Mrs. Doubtfire, and Andrew landing a role on Recess.
To connect with each other and discuss pop culture topics, the brothers recently launched their podcast, also titled Brotherly Love.
Source: https://people.com/lawrence-brothers-real-last-name-joey-matthew-andrew-90s-con-2025-11702602