‘Boy Meets World’: How Old Was Matthew Lawrence When He Joined the Cast?
Boy Meets World was one of the most popular and influential sitcoms of the ’90s. Though primarily created for the teen crowd, the show appealed to viewers of all ages. It ran for seven successful years on the ABC network, eventually going off the air in 2000. Matthew Lawrence was one of the show’s stars, a child actor who appeared in later seasons, Today, Lawrence remains a vital part of the show’s legacy, even if he doesn’t always participate in the Boy Meets World text group chat.
Who did Matthew Lawrence play in ‘Boy Meets World’?
Boy Meets World was already a hit show when Matthew Lawrence joined the cast in 1997. At the time, Lawrence was an established child actor with credits in several popular TV shows. However, his work on Boy Meets World helped boost his star power even further. And his character became a fast fan favorite.
Lawrence portrayed Jack Hunter, the long-lost brother of Cory’s best friend, Shawn. Jack, a handsome boy with a lot of charisma, formed a romantic relationship with Rachel McGuire and was involved in many of the show’s plot lines. Lawrence acted on Boy Meets World as Jack for the final three years that the show was on the air, from 1997 through 2000.
He was an established actor when he joined the show
Lawrence began acting when he was just four years old. He was cast in a recurring role in the TV series Dynasty (via IMDb). Over the next several years, Lawrence landed roles in notable projects like the Robin Williams comedy Mrs. Doubtfire. He later acted alongside his brothers, Joey Lawrence and Andrew Lawrence, in the sitcom Brotherly Love.
In 1997, when Lawrence was 17 years old, he was cast in the role that many still know him best for: Jack Hunter in Boy Meets World. Since the series ended, he’s done a handful of TV movies. His most notable credits include the 2003 comedy The Hot Chick, guest appearances on Melissa & Joey, and an episode of Girl Meets World.
Lawrence doesn’t participate in the group chat
In a 2022 cast interview with Good Morning America, Matthew Lawrence opened up about how he stays in touch with his former Boy Meets World co-stars. The moderator asked Lawrence if there is a group chat, asking the actor to reveal what goes on in the message thread.
Lawrence looked sheepish, grinning and looking away. His co-star Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga, jumped in to answer on his behalf. “I’ll tell you what it’s like,” Fishel laughed. “It’s us saying, ‘Matt, Matt, what are you doing?’ And Matt not responding!” Lawrence acknowledged the accuracy of her answer by nodding and laughing.
These days, Lawrence makes headlines more for his personal life than his professional. After reuniting with Dancing With the Stars professional Cheryl Burke nearly a decade after they first got together, the dancer filed for divorce from the actor in February 2022.
