Joey Lawrence Remembers ‘Family Adventures’ with John Travolta as a Kid: ‘Amazing Part of Our Life’

The Lawrence brothers recently returned from a family “vacation of a lifetime” — but there are childhood vacations they hold close to their hearts, too.

Speaking at a panel alongside brothers Matthew and Andrew at 90s Con 2024 in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Sept. 13, 2024, Joey Lawrence shared with the audience memories of vacationing with his 1990 Chains of Gold costar John Travolta and his family.

“He took us on so many family adventures we never would’ve been able to go on,” Joey, 48, recalled. “Gstaad [in Switzerland] for Christmas with his whole family, he took us to the Caribbean and had a family vacation down there.”

The actor, now 70, “became such an amazing part of our life,” Joey continued. “I’ve never been treated so well on a film set. I was about 12. And I’ve emulated that every opportunity I get. He set an amazing tone and example of grace and care.”

Chains of Gold was a made-for-TV movie that also starred Marilu Henner and Benjamin Bratt and followed “a social worker whose concern for a boy leads him into the gritty world of street gangs and crack dealers,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Joey had been in the business for 10 years by the time he joined the cast, and went on to earn a Young Artist Awards nomination for his work in the film.

Elsewhere in the panel, the brothers talked about how they avoided the stereotypical pitfalls of child stardom, crediting their mom for helping them compartmentalize work and life, and thanked their extended family for “insulating” them as their stars rose.

Matthew also shared similarly fond memories of one of his A-list costars, the late Robin Williams, saying that on the Mrs. Doubtfire set the actor “knew everybody’s name, he was compassionate about everybody and he really understood the meaning of, ‘You have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.’ There was no hierarchy for him: the guy running the craft services table was just as important as the director.”

“Seeing that at such a young age, that when you are at the top of your game you treat people really well — you emulate that,” Matthew continued.

Joey, Matthew and Andrew are currently working on a joint family project together — The Lawrence Brothers Show — and during their Q&A, teased that it’ll be in the style of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

“So far so good,” Joey said. “We’re really excited. We think it’s going to be the perfect tone. No one’s really seen us like this before.” 

The Lawrences are set to return to 90s Con in March of 2025 in Connecticut; tickets are now available.