Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez(born October 10, 1973) is an American actor and television host. He has appeared on several television series, in films, and onBroadway. He is known for his portrayal ofA.C. SlateronSaved by the Bell,Saved by the Bell: The College Years, and the2020 sequel series. He has appeared in numerous projects since, including the third season ofDancing with the Starsand as host for the syndicated entertainment news magazine showsExtraandAccess Hollywood. He has also hostedAmerica's Best Dance CrewforMTV. In 2012, he co-hosted thesecond seasonof the American version ofThe X FactorwithKhloé Kardashian, and was the sole host for thethird and final season.
Lopez was born on October 10, 1973, inChula Vista, California, the son of Elvira Soledad Trasviña and Mario Alberto López Pérez.Lopez was raised in aCatholicfamily. His parents are both emigrants fromMexico. His father was born inCuliacán,Sinaloa, and his mother inTijuana,Baja California.His younger sister, Marissa, is married to former NFLMinnesota VikingsandHouston TexanslinebackerKailee Wong.
Lopez started dance education at age three, training intapandjazz.He also did tumbling, karate and wrestling at his localBoys and Girls Clubwhen he was 7 years old.He excelled at these as well as other activities in which his mother enrolled him.During high school atChula Vista High School,he was on the school's wrestling team at the weight class of 160 lb (73 kg). He placed 2nd in theSan DiegoSection competition and 7th inCaliforniahis senior year. He graduated in 1991.
Lopez was discovered by a talent agent at a dance recital when he was 10 years old. He initially worked in local advertisements and commercials before making TV appearances.
Lopez began acting in 1984 when he appeared as younger brother Tomás in the short-livedABCcomedy seriesa.k.a. Pablo.That same year, he was cast as a drummer and dancer onKids Incorporated; he performed on three seasons. In March 1987, he was cast as a guest star on the sitcomThe Golden Girlsas a Latino boy named Mario who faces deportation. He was cast in a small part in the filmColors(1988) as Felipe's friend.
Lopez was cast in 1989 asA.C. Slaterin the television Saturday-morning seriessitcomSaved by the Bell(1989–1993), and its spinoffSaved by the Bell: The College Years(1993–1994).On February 4, 2015, Lopez reunited withMark-Paul Gosselaar,Elizabeth Berkley,Dennis Haskins, andTiffani ThiessenonThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they appeared in aSaved by the Bellsketch with Fallon.In 2020, Lopez reprised the role of A.C. Slater inPeacock's sequel series,Saved by the Bell.
In 1997, Lopez starred as Olympic diverGreg Louganisin the television filmBreaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story. The following year, he was cast as Bobby Cruz in theUSA NetworkseriesPacific Bluefor two seasons before it was canceled after the fifth season; he then went on to guest star onResurrection Blvd.,Eve, andThe Bad Girl's Guide. In March 2006, Lopez joined the cast of the daytimesoap operaThe Bold and the Beautifulplaying the role of Dr. Christian Ramirez. On July 18, 2006, he was released from hisB&Bcontract.Later that year, Mario guest-starred as aplastic surgeonwho drivesChristian Troyto jealousy when he sees him naked in the shower in an episode ofFX Network'sNip/Tuckduring the show's fourth season, which began in autumn 2006. He also made an appearance onGeorge Lopezas a police officer in late 2006.
Also in the fall of 2006, Lopez signed on as a contestant on thethird season ofDancing with the StarsonABCwith professional partner and then-girlfriendKarina Smirnoffwho was making her series debut. They finished in second place, losing to the team ofEmmitt SmithandCheryl Burke.
Lopez and Courtney Mazza had a reality show onVH1calledMario Lopez: Saved by the Babywhich premiered on November 1, 2010.Lopez guest-starred as a reporter forExtra Sesame Streetin theSesame Streetepisode "The Veggie Monster" in 2012.
In December 2020, Lopez starred as Colonel Sanders inA Recipe for Seduction, a short film fromLifetimeandKFC.In 2024, Lopez signed a multi-year deal withGreat American Media.
In 1992, he hosted his first series on NBC, calledName Your Adventure. He hosted the serial tabloidExtra, as well as the MTV reality showsAmerica's Best Dance CrewandMTV's Top Pop Group. In the 1995–96 season, he hosted the second season ofMasters of the Mazeon what was thenThe Family Channel. Lopez is both the host (with Carmen Palumbo) and co-executive producer ofSí TV'sDating Factory. From October to December 2012, he co-hosted theFoxsinging competitionThe X Factoralong withKhloe Kardashian.In September 2013, Lopez returned to the show as sole host forseason 3after Kardashian was not asked back as co-host.The X Factorwas cancelled on February 7, 2014.From 2002 to 2005, he was the host of theAnimal PlanetshowPet Star, despite some difficulty with an allergy to cats.Lopez hosted theMiss Americapageant in 2007, 2009, and 2010.
Lopez has guest co-hostedThe Wendy Williams Show,and MCed the gala benefit for the 2010 Pageant of the Masters arts festival inLaguna Beach, California.
Starting in 2012, Lopez began hosting his own nationally syndicated radio show,ON With Mario Lopez, forPremiere Radio. It streams online daily oniHeartRadioand airs on selected CHR and Hot AC stations (particularly onKBIG-FM/Los Angeles) throughout the U.S.
In August 2014, Lopez began hosting the Hot AC edition of theiHeartRadio Countdown.
In July 2019, it was reported that Lopez would be leaving his duties hostingExtrain order to host rival programAccess Hollywood.In November 2019 Lopez was the Grand Marshal of theHollywood Christmas Parade.
In 2024, Lopez began hosting theGame Show NetworkseriesBlank Slate.
Outside of TV, Lopez made hisBroadwaydebut on April 15, 2008, in the revival of themusicalA Chorus Lineas Zach.
Lopez has published three non-fiction books. The first,Mario Lopez Knockout Fitness, was published in 2008 and written together with Jeff O'Connell (who had previously written a fitness book withLL Cool J).His bookExtra Leanfollowed in early 2010 and became aNew York Timesbestseller.Extra Lean Familywas published in May 2012.He released a children's book entitledMario and Baby Giaby Celebra Children's Books (a division ofPenguin Books), on September 27, 2011. The book is about Lopez and his daughter.
In 2022, it was announced that Lopez is involved in an effort to revive the Puerto Rican boy bandMenudo, as he oversaw auditions that took place, in a project named "Menudo: A New Beginning".Lopez helped revive the band as their new manager, and in 2023, Menudo released their first single under Lopez, named "Mi Amore".
According to Lopez,Fergiewas his first kiss and the two were involved briefly while they were both on the showKids Incorporated.
In 1993, Lopez was accused of date rape,but prosecutors found no evidence to support the allegation, and multiple witnesses "contradicted the woman's account of her encounter" with Lopez.
After six years of dating, Lopez married actressAli Landryon April 24, 2004, in a Catholic ceremony at the Las Alamandas resort outsidePuerto Vallarta, Mexico,but their marriage was annulled two weeks later.In a 2011 interview, Lopez admitted that the parting transpired after Landry discovered Lopez wasunfaithfulto her days before the wedding at hisbachelor party.Lopez dated professional dancerKarina Smirnoff, hisDancing with the Starspartner, from 2006 to June 2008.
In the fall of 2008, Lopez metBroadwaydancer, actress, and producer Courtney Mazza onA Chorus Lineon Broadway in New York.They married inPunta Mita, Mexico, on December 1, 2012.They have a daughter Gia (b. 2010)and two sons Santiago & Dominic (b. 2013 and 2019).
Lopez has stated that he isCatholicand goes to church every week.In March 2018, he underwentbaptism by immersionat theJordan River, which was administered by a Catholic priest.
He is a proponent of health and fitness, and was the cover feature for the November 2013 issue ofFitnessRX For Menmagazine.To complement his fitness regime, Lopez is an amateur boxer and a purple belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu; he began training in early 2017and received his blue belt in February 2018 under Professor Robert Hill ofGracie BarraGlendale.He received his purple belt in November 2022.