Who is Samantha Cope? Joey Lawrence's wife pregnant with second child a year after brief split

American actor, podcaster, and musician Joseph Lawrence Mignogna III, commonly known as Joey Lawrence, and his wife, Samantha Cope, are expecting their second child together.

According to Entertainment Tonight, as cited by US Weekly, the celebrity couple announced the big news on November 12, 2025, during the live taping of the 20th Birthday Party episode of the popular reality TV series Dancing with the Stars.

Joey Lawrence, 49, who is also a record producer, singer-songwriter, and game show host, rose to fame after starring in popular sitcoms like Blossom and Melissa Joey. Lawrence and the 38-year-old Samantha Cope were questioned about their similar outfits during the production of the Birthday Party episode of the dancing reality show, when Joey, pointing at his wife's baby bump, said:

"Nothing is planeed. This isn't planned."

As the couple revealed that they were expecting another baby, Joey Lawrence said:

"I got the older girls and then we have our little one, Dylan, who is 3, and then we got this little guy. They are so excited. This one is a boy - first one ever - so everyone is excited that they are going to have a little brother. That is what is so cool."

After starring in several popular sitcoms, TV reality shows, and movies, Joey has created his own separate fanbase; however, many people are unsure of who his wife, Samantha Cope, is. According to People Magazine, Samantha is an actress who has starred in both movies and TV shows. She is primarily known for starring in television films.

Samantha also starred as Brooke in the second season of HBO's Insecure. While she has appeared in other movies such as Flowers and Honey and Love at the Christmas Contest, the actress has also starred alongside her husband, Joey Lawrence, in Frankie Meets Jack, released in 2023.

However, the first time Samantha and Joey met one another was during the production of the Lifetime film My Brother's Secret Husband in 2020. Following that, the couple has also collaborated in Misletoe Mixup. After meeting on a movie set, they got engaged in 2021. It was Samantha Cope, who took to Instagram to break the news.

The couple got hitched in May 2022 in Temecula, California, and had their first baby, a daughter, in January 2023. While they are about to have their second baby, Joey Lawrence, who was earlier married to Michelle Vella and Chandice Yawn-Nelson, with whom he was married for over 15 years, shares two daughters: Liberty and Charleston.

Joey Lawrence opened up about putting in effort in his relationship with Samantha Cope

As per US Weekly, after having their first baby, Samantha Cope filed for divorce from the Brotherly Love actor, Joey. While their split was temporary, the couple eventually reconciled and got back together. As per US Weekly, Samantha dismissed her divorce petition in December 2024.

In an August 2025 interview with US Weekly, Joey Lawrence spoke about how he puts in extra effort to make his relationship with Samantha better:

"Every situation will make you stronger if you're willing to put the work in. Life is a very imperfect, bumpy journey. We make all of our mistakes down here, I really do belive that. I know that for a fact, because, I've made a ton and continue to make mistakes."

Joey added:

"Everything takes work. Any relationship takes work, no matter what with frieds, siblings - Matt, Andy and I put a ton of work into our relationsip - and we continue to work through it as we grow, as we became men."

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Talking about putting in effort in his relationship with his wife, Samantha Cope, Joey said:

"I love her to death, and we're just spending every day just working away at it. It feels good to put the work in and see results from that."

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