Joey Lawrence Said Marrying Samantha Was 'Out Of The Ordinary' Months Before Divorce

Joey Lawrence once opened up about his whirlwind romance with his now estranged wife, Samantha Cope.

Cope recently filed for divorce from the actor after two years of marriage and made some serious demands, including sole physical custody of their daughter Dylan.

Joey Lawrence and Samantha Cope met on the set of a Lifetime movie in 2020 and tied the knot two years later.

When Lawrence met Cope on the set of a Lifetime thriller, he never expected that life would imitate art in such a dramatic way.

The actor, who shot to fame as a teen heartthrob on "Blossom," shared how his on-screen role as Cope's lover-turned-killer led to a real-life love story that was anything but typical.

In May 2022, the former lovebirds took their unconventional love story to the next level, saying "I do" in a romantic ceremony. 

Their connection, which blossomed while filming "My Husband's Secret Brother," seemed almost too surreal for the 47-year-old, who admitted that dating a co-star was a first for him. In his words:

"Which is so crazy to me. I'd never dated somebody that I'd worked with before. That was just very, very much out of the ordinary for me."

The former couple's initial interaction was far from ordinary. While many actors meet their partners on set, few can say their romance began with such a dramatic twist. 

"We did this big thriller [My Husband's Secret Brother] that my brother Andrew directed for Lifetime, and I met her on the set of that movie," Lawrence told PEOPLE. 

Playing her on-screen lover—and eventually her killer—was a unique start to their relationship. With a laugh, Lawrence said, "I was her killer. Well, I was her lover — and also her killer."

Their love story continued to unfold in real life, with the pair welcoming their first child together—a daughter and Lawrence's third—in January 2023.

After an unconventional start to their relationship, Lawrence and Cope's love story has come to an abrupt end.

Just two years after tying the knot, the couple is now facing a contentious divorce, with Cope making some strong demands in the legal proceedings. The Blast reported that in the divorce filing, the actress disclosed that they had been separated since June. 

In an unusual move, Cope is asking the court to block any spousal support for either party. This decision highlights her desire for a clean break from the marriage without any financial ties.

At the heart of the divorce is the former couple's young daughter, Dylan. The mother-of-one is requesting sole physical custody, granting Lawrence limited visitation rights.

She insists that Dylan should only stay with her father for up to two nights a week once she turns three, with no extended visits until Dylan is older and can consent.

Cope's demands did not stop at custody and spousal support. She also wants strict conditions for Lawrence's visitation with their daughter.

She insists that non-family members should not be present when Dylan is with her father unless she (Cope) gives explicit permission.

Before the storm of divorce took over, Lawrence and Cope were basking in the happiness of their growing family. 

At the time, The Blast observed that the former pair shared a moment of pure bliss with their fans on social media, celebrating the arrival of their baby girl in a heartwarming Instagram post.

In the tender photo, the doting parents cradled their newborn daughter, Dylan Rose, with beaming smiles. The proud father-of-three could not resist gushing about his happiness in the caption.

"We welcomed her into this world with the most amazing midwife, everyone is happy and healthy and we are overjoyed with gratitude," he wrote, adding a prayer and white heart emoji.

The actor's joy was palpable as he thanked his fans for their "continued love" and "support" during this special time. Lawrence ended his post on a high note, teasing his followers with the promise of more baby updates to come.

Lawrence was already a proud father of two before welcoming Dylan with Cope. Dylan joins her older sisters, Charleston and Liberty, whom Lawrence shares with his ex-wife Chandie Yawn-Nelson. 

The actor and Yawn-Nelson tied the knot in 2005, embarking on a marriage that would last over 15 years. Their union came to an end in 2020, with their divorce being finalized in 2022. 

During their time together, they welcomed two daughters, Charleston, born in 2006, and Liberty, in 2010. Now 18 and 14 years old, Charleston and Liberty are well into their young adult and teenage years. 

Given the intensity of Joey Lawrence and Samantha Cope's brief marriage, their story highlights how quickly a whirlwind romance can shift from bliss to contention.