Joey Lawrence with his kids: Charleston, Liberty and Dylan.Photo:joey lawrence/instagram
joey lawrence/instagram
Joey Lawrence has come a long way since his days as a ‘90s heartthrob, trading the title for dad of three kids: Charleston, Liberty and Dylan.
Lawrence shares his two oldest daughters, Charleston and Liberty, with his ex-wifeChandie Yawn-Nelson. TheBlossomstar welcomed his youngest child, Dylan, with his wife, actressSamantha Cope. Shefiled for divorcefrom Lawrence in August 2024, but the coupleannounced their reconciliationin December of that year.
During a 2009 interview with Yahoo’sSpotlight to Nightlight, Lawrence also offered insight into his parenting approach, saying he walks “a fine line” between being their friend and parent. He noted that while he wants “to be great friends with my kids,” he also thinks there needs to be “respect” from them.
“If that’s not there, then you’re never going to get it, and you’re never going to have it and when you need to have it, it’s going to be a lost cause,” the actor explained.
Here’s everything to know about Joey Lawrence’s kids: Charleston, Liberty and Dylan.
Charleston “Charli” Lawrence, 19
Joey Lawrence’s daughters Charleston and Liberty Lawrence.Joey Lawrence/Instagram
Joey Lawrence/Instagram
Lawrence and Yawn-Nelson welcomed their daughter, Charleston “Charli” Lawrence, in 2006.
The following year, she gained a love of reading. “She’s a huge fan of those Little Golden Books,” he toldSpotlight to Nightlight, noting that they read one book at night, but she always tried to push it to two stories.
When Charleston was 5, he updated PEOPLE about her milestones, including learning to spell, read and tie her shoes.
Fast forward, theBrotherly Lovealum opened up about his involvement with his kids’ lives in 2023, especially with his two older daughters.
After explaining that he doesn’t want them to use social media because it can skew their perspective of the world, he shared that he’s discussed difficult topics with them, like the dangers of drugs.
Joey Lawrence and his daughter Charleston arrive at Disney/Pixar’s “World of Cars Online” launch party on August 11, 2010 in Burbank, California.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
“I don’t mind being a helicopter parent, as annoying as that is,” he told PEOPLE, stressing that, as a parent, it’s important to “be consistent” and “hope that most of what you say somehow gets absorbed into their brains.”
Away from home, Charleston may be the next member of the Lawrence family to make it big in Hollywood: In a 2024 interview withMorning Honey, the dad of three mentioned that he would support his kids going into the acting business if they wanted to, like his mom once did for him.
One of Charleston’s first roles was in the Lifetime movieDeadly Deed, in which she played Lawrence’s stepdaughter. “She was excellent,” the actor said.
Still, he added that she may “circle back” to being in front of the small screen in the future after pursuing other hobbies.
“She loves to draw and is an incredible artist,” Lawrence shared. “She loves design and interior design, and she can sing and act. She’s still figuring it all out.”
Joey Lawrence poses with his daughters Liberty Grace and Charleston at the premiere of Disney Channels' “Sofia The First: Once Upon a Princess” on November 10, 2012 in Burbank, California.David Livingston/Getty
David Livingston/Getty
The name Liberty “is something I’ve always loved,” Lawrence told PEOPLE at the time, noting that the middle name, Grace, paid tribute to his late grandmother.
Yawn-Nelson had a difficult pregnancy with Liberty, who was born 6½ weeks early with Rh disease.
Joey Lawrence, Liberty Grace Lawrence, Chandie Yawn-Nelson and Charleston Lawrence attend the March of Dimes Foundation & Samantha Harris Host 5th Annual Celebration of Babies Luncheon on November 13, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California.Michael Buckner/WireImage
Michael Buckner/WireImage
Speaking to PEOPLE in 2022, Lawrence said that Charleston and Liberty were aware of what he did for work but “they don’t really care.” He joked, “I think I’d like them to care a little more, just because it would make me feel better about myself.”
Liberty hasn’t shown quite as much interest in acting as Charleston, but Lawrence would still support her if she did.
“My girls have taken a totally different path because that’s their journey,” he told Morning Honey. “I don’t know where it will end up, but they’ve got the talent. I don’t know if they’ll utilize it in that way, but I would certainly help them in any way I could if that’s what they wanted to do.”
He also revealed that the sisters like to sing, saying, “They truly have incredible voices. They blow me away! They sound likeAriana Grande. It’s pretty incredible.”
When speaking to PEOPLE about being a “helicopter parent” in 2023, Lawrence revealed how he tries to help his kids navigate social media, including offering a different view of reference.
“All these insecurities and everything that young people go through as they’re developing? I just try and give them perspective every chance I get to talk them through it," he explained.
Dylan Rose Lawrence, 2
Joey Lawrence and Samantha Cope with their daughter Dylan Lawrence.Joey Lawrence/Instagram
Lawrence and Cope welcomed their daughter, Dylan Rose Lawrence, on Jan. 16, 2023.
The couple celebratedthe birth of Dylanwith a series of sweet photoson Instagramshortly after her birth. “Mom, Dad and big sisters are all so smitten with you sweet girl,” the actor wrote.
“We welcomed her into this world with the most amazing midwife, everyone is happy and healthy and we are overjoyed with gratitude,” Lawrence continued. “Wow what a beautiful journey."
“So wild. It’s great,” he said, noting that as much as he loved it, it was still difficult. “The adjustment period, kids break you in and they break you down."
Joey Lawrence with Samantha Cope and their daughter Dylan Lawrence.Joey Lawrence/Instagram
In a 2024 interview with SheKnows, Lawrence shared that his “favorite” thing about Dylan was “when she blows me a kiss back because she just started doing that.” He added that she “just started saying ‘Bye, Dada.’ ”
While Charleston and Liberty are mostly absent from their dad’s Instagram, Cope often posts photos with Dylan. In January 2024, she celebrated Dylan’s first birthday with a cute videoon Instagramof her playing with a balloon.
“it turns out – after 365 days of holding you nonstop, nursing you on demand, rocking you to sleep… sleeping next to you and ‘spoiling’ you… the only person I was actually spoiling was me," she captioned it. “I’m so thankful for every moment and so thankful God chose me to be your mama.”
source: people.com
