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School Jock Slater
Background:
"I like to consider myself an actor who just happens to be Hispanic." Mario
Lopez.
Latino-American actor Mario Lopez is widely recognized while portraying
confident high school “jock” A.C. Slater (1989-1993) on the popular NBC teen
sitcom "Saved By The Bell." He also had a regular role on USA Network’s cop
drama "Pacific Blue,” as Bobby Cruz (1998-2000), and a recurring role on CBS
daytime soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful,” as Dr. Christian Ramirez
(2006).
Lopez has also proven himself as a talented presenter and has already hosted
such series as "Name Your Adventure" (1993), "The Other Half" (2001), "Pet Star"
(2003) and "ESPN Hollywood" (2005). Starting on September 12, 2006, he joined
ABC's weekly dance competition "Dancing With the Stars," in which he is
partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff. He eventually lost in the
final round against Super Bowl champ Emmitt Smith.
On the big screen, Lopez could be seen in Colors (1988), Depraved (1996),
Eastside (1999) and Outta Time (2002). He is recently announced to star in
writer-director Art Sims' upcoming soccer drama, The Goal.
More personally, the 5' 11" tall handsome curly-haired actor was married to
actress and model Ali Landry for less than one month in 2004.
"I love talking about women because they are a constant study and you're always
learning."
Wrestler and Dancer
Childhood and Family:
"Usually I'll go to San Diego to hang out with my parents if I want to unwind."
Mario Lopez.
In San Diego, California, Mario Lopez Jr. was born on October 10, 1973, to
Mexican parents Mario Sr. and Elvira. He has a brother, Emilio Lopez (born in
January 1975), and a younger sister, Marissa Lopez (born in July 1976; married
to Houston Texans linebacker, Kailee Wong).
"I grew up in a household without a lot of problems and they have been very
supportive from day one." Mario Lopez.
Mario graduated from Chula Vista High School, Chula Vista, California, in 1991.
While studying there, he was an amateur wrestler and was on the high school
wrestling team. He also loves dancing and always wanted to dance at “Radio City
Music Hall” in New York. Additionally, Mario plays drums as a hobby but has done
so professionally.
In summer 2003, Mario proposed to his long-time girlfriend, actress and model
Ali Landry (born July 21, 1973), the 1996 Miss USA. They tied the knot on April
24, 2004, but just two weeks later, on May 12, 2004, the marriage was annulled
amid rumors of infidelity on Mario’s part.
Saved by the Bell
Career:
"I'm proud of my background, so I hope there will be more roles where Hispanics
are being portrayed." Mario Lopez.
At the tender age of 3, of Mexican descent Mario Lopez began studying dancing.
And by the age of 10, while joining a talent competition, he was discovered by
an agent who persuaded him to give an acting career a try. Soon, the 11-year-old
got his first role as the drummer and dancer on the syndicated children’s show
“Kids Incorporated,” in which he stayed from 1984 to 1986. During that time, he
was cast on ABC’s short-lived sitcom starring Paul Rodriguez, "a.k.a. Pablo,"
and appeared in an episode of CBS detective series starring Gerald McRaney and
Jameson Parker, "Simon & Simon." He was also seen in the 1986 TV movie The
Deacon Street Deer.
Following “Kids Incorporated,” Lopez landed a memorable guest role as Mario
Sanchez, Dorothy's (played by Beatrice Arthur) illegal-immigrant student who
risks deportation because of his prize-winning essay on what it means to be an
American, in a March 1987 episode of NBC's original popular sitcom "The Golden
Girls.” The next year, he made his feature debut in Dennis Hopper's detective
drama about a police unit trying to control the gangs in East L.A., Colors,
starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall.
The young actor enjoyed his first taste of fame in 1989, when he nabbed a role
on NBC's popular teen sitcom "Saved by the Bell," playing new transfer student
and confident jock A.C. Slater, friend and chief rival of charming and
manipulative schemer Zack (played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar). He stayed in the show
for four seasons (1989-1993) and then reprised his role in its spin-off, "Saved
by the Bell: The College Years" (1993-1994). During that time, he also starred
in the specials: "Saved By the Bell – Hawaiian Style" (1992), "Saved By the Bell
Graduation Special" (1993) and "Saved By the Bell – Wedding in Las Vegas" (1994)
as well as the short-lived 1993-1994 primetime series "Saved By the Bell: The
College Years" (all NBC). Meanwhile, Lopez’s muscular, athletic character has
helped him to garner a sizeable teenage-girl fan base as he graced the pages of
many a teenage pinup magazine. He also maintains a close friendship with fellow
cast mate Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
By this time, Lopez also showed his hosting skills. He served as host of NBC's
Saturday morning show "Name Your Adventure" (1992-1993) and later on The Family
Channel’s action-packed game show "Masters of the Maze" (1995). He also
continued acting and was cast alongside Scott Bairstow and Amy Jo Johnson in the
dark, high school revenge NBC TV-movie Killing Mr. Griffin (1997), based on Lois
Duncan's novel for young adults with the same name. That same year, he delivered
a more impressive performance as the uniquely celebrated Olympic diver in the
USA Network’s biopic, Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story, based on
the athlete's autobiography.
After the biopic, USA Network hired Lopez again to play a regular role on their
one-hour cop drama "Pacific Blue,” as Bobby Cruz (1998-2000), a member of squad
of crime-fighting bike patrol officers. Meanwhile, he did a two-episode stint on
USA Network's teen sitcom "USA High" in 1998. He also went back to feature work
with starring roles, as a Federation agent goes undercover at a secret
government military base in the direct-to-video sci-fi thriller Absolution and
as a stock market savvy ex-con looking for a second chance in Lorena David's
crime drama Eastside (both in 1999). In 2001, he served as co-host of the NBC
show "The Other Half."
In 2002, Lopez reteamed with film director Lorena David in his crime action
movie Outta Time, playing the lead role of a handsome and talented college
student who lost his scholarship and forced to transport packages for a shady
medical laboratory in order to pay his way through the university. From 2002 to
2005 Lopez worked as host of "Pet Star" on Animal Planet and served as co-anchor
of ESPN 2’s half-hour nightly sport and entertainment news program, "ESPN
Hollywood," in 2005.
From March to July 2006, Lopez joined the cast of CBS daytime soap opera “The
Bold and the Beautiful,” playing the role of Dr. Christian Ramirez. Afterward,
he guest starred in a September 2006 episode of FX Networks' drama series
"Nip/Tuck," as a plastic surgeon who gives Dr. Troy (played by Julian McMahon)
liposuction. Starting on September 12, 2006, Lopez joined ten other celebrities
for the third season of ABC's weekly dance competition "Dancing With the Stars,"
in which he is partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff. The show
lasted 10 weeks with Lopez eventually losing in the final round against former
pro football player Emmitt Smith.
Lopez is set to star in writer-director Art Sims' upcoming soccer drama, The
Goal, as a young man from the slums of Rio de Janiero turns his country's
premiere soccer player.
"Right now, I'd like to just continue on a series where I am doing good work
with a balance of comedy and drama. That and do occasional features and movies."
Mario Lopez.
Awards:
