"Michael paves his own way with hard work and intelligence," he says about his character. "I admire his passion in the pursuit of his goals. He is a great example of the American dream."
A native of Philadelphia (the setting for "American Dreams"), Lawrence began appearing in commercials nation-wide at the age of 3, catching the eye of former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson who promptly booked the young actor for a guest spot. His appearance on the late-night talk show proved to be the launching point for Lawrence's career as the 5-year-old was cast in his first regular series role on the hit series "Gimme a Break," opposite Nell Carter.
Lawrence earned even greater stardom on NBC's comedy series "Blossom," giving life to the impressionable and fun-loving Joey Russo. He returned to NBC again to star alongside brothers Mathew and Andrew in "Brotherly Love," stepping behind the camera to direct several episodes for the series.
Lawrence's feature-film credits include Carl Reiner's "Summer Rental" (starring alongside the late comedian John Candy), "Chains of Gold," "Radioland Murderers," "Urban Legends" and "Desperate but not Serious," as well as voicing the title character in the Disney film "Oliver & Company." His next appearance on the big screen will be in the upcoming release "R3," from director Betty Thomas.
Along with his acting credits, Lawrence is an accomplished recording artist, having released his multi-platinum album "Joey Lawrence" in 1993, for which he embarked on a world tour.
Lawrence's other interests include music and automobiles. He currently resides in Los Angeles and his birthday is April 20.
Photos: Paul Drinkwater