Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez
source
Name	Mario Lopez
Caption	Lopez in 2012
Birth date	10 October 1973
Birth place	San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, television host, author
Years active	1984–present
Spouse	Ali Landry (m. 2004; ann. 2004), Courtney Mazza (m. 2012)

Mario Lopez is an American actor, television host, and author, widely recognized for his role as A.C. Slater on the NBC teen sitcom Saved by the Bell. His career spans several decades, transitioning from a popular teen idol to a prominent host on entertainment news and reality competition programs. Lopez is also known for his work as a correspondent on ''Access Hollywood'' and as the host of ''Extra'' and ''Dancing with the Stars''.

Early life and education

He was born in San Diego to Elvia and Mario Lopez, Sr., and was raised in Chula Vista. His father worked for the San Diego Gas & Electric company. Lopez began taking dance lessons at age three and studied various styles, including tap and jazz, which led to early performances at events like the San Diego County Fair. He attended Chula Vista High School, where he was a champion wrestler, and later graduated from the University of Southern California.

Career

His professional career began with appearances on shows like a.k.a. Pablo and Kids Incorporated before landing his breakout role on Saved by the Bell. Following the success of the series, he starred in the NBC spinoff Saved by the Bell: The College Years and the USA Network drama Pacific Blue. Lopez expanded into hosting with MTV's Top Pop Group and later became a permanent co-host on ''Extra'' in 2008. He has hosted numerous series, including ''The X Factor'', ''America's Best Dance Crew'', and the syndicated version of Dancing with the Stars. Lopez has also acted in films such as Depraved and The Dog Who Saved Christmas, and authored health and fitness books.

Personal life

He was briefly married to actress Ali Landry in 2004 before their union was annulled. In 2012, he married actress Courtney Mazza, with whom he has three children. The family resides in Los Angeles. Lopez is a practicing Catholic and has been open about his faith. He is also known for his dedication to fitness, which he has documented in books like Mario Lopez's Knockout Fitness and Mario and Courtney's Healthy Latin Cooking.

Filmography

* Colors (1988) – N/A * The Last of the Finest (1990) – N/A * Depraved (1996) – N/A * Eastside (1999) – N/A * The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009) – Zeus (voice) * Mighty Oak (2020) – N/A * Walking with Herb (2021) – N/A

Television credits

* a.k.a. Pablo (1984) – N/A * Kids Incorporated (1986) – N/A * Saved by the Bell (1989–1993) – A.C. Slater * Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993–1994) – A.C. Slater * Pacific Blue (1996–2000) – Bobby Cruz * The Bold and the Beautiful (2006) – Dr. Christian Ramirez * Nip/Tuck (2007) – Dr. Mike Hamoui * Melrose Place (2009–2010) – Dr. Peter Burns * The Fosters (2015) – N/A

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, he has received several accolades, including an ALMA Award for Outstanding Host of a Daytime Television Program for his work on Extra. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host for the same program. Lopez also won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Cable Series for Pacific Blue and received nominations from the Imagen Awards and the Teen Choice Awards for various roles and hosting duties.

Category:American male television actors Category:American television hosts Category:1973 births Category:Living people