Date of Birth

10 December 1973, San Diego, California, USA

Birth Name

Mario Lopez Jr.

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Born in San Diego, California, on October 10th, 1973, to Mario and Elvira, Mario Lopez's first professional role was on the series, a.k.a. Pablo (1984). Mario is probably best known to youngsters, however, as A.C. Slater from NBC's popular 1980s teen comedy series Saved by the Bell (1989). Among Mario's other credits are several other popular television series, such as Pacific Blue (1996) and the movies Colors (1988), Depraved (1996) and Eastside (1999). Mario has proven himself as a talented and prolific presenter, having hosted such series as Name Your Adventure (1992), The Other Half (2001) and Pet Star (2002).

Trivia

• 1991 graduate of Chula Vista High School.
• Was an amateur wrestler while in high school, and was on his high school wrestling team.
• Has a younger sister, Marissa Lopez, who is married to ex-Houston Texans linebacker Kailee Wong.
• Mario Lopez was a state placewinner in California at 189 pounds in 1990, contrary to popular belief, he was not a state champion. He ended up taking 7th Place at the California State High School tournament as a senior.
• Athletics aside, his true passion in life is dancing. He has aspirations of one day dancing at Radio City music hall in New York City.
• Proposed to actress/model Ali Landry Monteverde in summer 2003.
• Before being cast in Saved by the Bell (1989), Lopez was a dancer.
• He is a talented drummer and played drums on the 80s show Kids Incorporated (1984).
• He allegedly cheated on his wife-to-be, actress Ali Landry Monteverde, one day before the wedding and after the wedding. He was caught by onlookers cheating at his bachelor party. This is why Ali Landry Monteverde got the marriage annulled.
• Briefly worked at Coggin Honda in Orlando, Florida.
• Close friend of Eva Longoria since 1992.
• Signed a deal with Celsius, a popular calorie-burning drink, to be their spokesman in 2010 [March 10, 2010].
• Mario first met Courtney Lopez in 2008 when he was doing the Broadway production of "A Chorus Line".
• Mario and his girlfriend, Courtney Lopez, are expecting their first child in the Fall of 2010 [March 10, 2010].
• His girlfriend, Courtney Lopez, gave birth to a girl, Gia Lopez (Gia Francesca Lopez), on September 11, 2010 in Burbank, California. Gia weighed in at 6 lb. 4 oz. Gia's godmother is Eva Longoria.
• (January 18, 2012) Engaged to Courtney Lopez.
• He has played the same character (A.C. Slater) in four different series: Saved by the Bell (1989), Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993), Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993) and Robot Chicken (2001).
• Ran in the 2011 New York City Marathon.
• Mario and his wife, Courtney Lopez, are expecting their second child [April 13, 2013].
• Release of his book, "Extra Lean". [May 2010]
• Currently starring in the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line", in the role of "Zach"; at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater [May 2008]
• Release of his book, "Mario Lopez's Knockout Fitness" by Mario with Jeff O'Connell. [May 2008]
• Auditioned to replace Bob Barker as host of The Price Is Right (1972). [May 2007]
• Currently celebrity team captain of the "LA Riot" on American TV Show Extreme Dodgeball (2004). [November 2005]
• Currently working on the project "The Mangina Monologues" the male version of the famous "Vagina Monologues". [May 2005]
• Currently works as a Morning DJ for Hot 92 Jamz Radio Station in Southern California. [May 2005]
• Appeared in an infomercial, hosted by Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian, for their "Perfect Skin" skin care system. [2010]
• Became the 2008 bachelor of the year. [June 2008]
• Release of his book, "Mud Tacos", by Mario and his sister, Marissa Lopez Wong. [October 2009]
• His wife, Courtney Lopez, gave birth to their second child, a boy named Dominic Lopez, born on September 9, 2013.
• He is the son of Elvira Soledad Trasviña and Mario Alberto López Pérez. His father was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and his mother was born in Tijuana, Territorio Norte de Baja California, both in Mexico. A DNA test undertaken by the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) stated that his genetic ancestry is 56% European, 41% Indigenous American, and 3% Sub-Saharan African.
• On March 2, 1991 Lopez won a 3-1 decision over David Joe Harris of Carlsbad at the University of Pacific, Stockton to finish seventh in the 160 pound class at the CIF San Diego Section State Wrestling Meet. He won 6 of 8 matches at the tournament and finished his senior season with a 29-3 record for coach Art Stone.
• Mario and his wife, Courtney Lopez, are expecting their third child [June 5, 2019].
• His wife, Courtney Lopez, gave birth to their third child, a boy named Santino Rafael Lopez, in July 2019.

Trademarks:

• Dimpled cheeks
  

Quotes

• I love talking about women because they are a constant study and you're always learning.
• [Who already admitted that his steamy spread in the magazine has brought him no shortage of female admirers]: People come up to me and ask me to sign it a lot. They say, 'What were you thinking?' And 'how did it feel?' And 'you're naked!' And 'oh my gosh!' And 'my mother and my grandmother, they put it up in their room.' And it's funny. I didn't think it was going to cause such a big stir.
• [on the Saved by the Bell (1989) 20-year Anniversary Special]: Everybody knew the 20-year anniversary was coming up. This People story has been in the works for over a year, long before [late night host] Jimmy Fallon started talking about it. We were all excited about it.
• I wouldn't make it past the first round! These kids are extremely talented and athletic.
• [on his book, Mud Tacos]: It's stories about my sister Marisa and me growing up. My grandmother was always cooking, and she never let us in the house. So in the backyard, we made taco shells out of leaves and meat out of mud. The book encourages kids to use their imagination ... plus you learn a little Spanish. I think kids are going to dig it.
• [Of Fergie]: I wrote her a note and, as she likes to point out, I was very smooth at 10 because I bought her perfume. I think the gesture was pretty good for a kid.