• Faith: Christian - Catholic
• Career: Actor
• Birthday:  October 10, 1973

Mario Lopez is a television host and actor. He's appeared on several television shows, films, and on Broadway. He's best known for his portrayal of A.C. Slater on "Saved by the Bell," "Saved by the Bell: College Years," and the 2020 sequel series. He's appeared in numerous projects since, including the third season of "Dancing with the Stars" and as a host for the syndicated entertainment news magazine shows "Extra" and Access Hollywood."

He's also hosted "America's Best Dance Crew" for MTV. In 2012, Lopez co-hosted the second season of the American version of "The X Factor" with Khloe Kardashian and was the sole host for the third and final season. Lopez was born in 1973 in Chula Vista, California. When he was three, he started dance education, training in jazz and tap. When he was seven, he also did tumbling, karate, and wrestling at his local Boys and Girls Club. He excelled at these and other activities in which his mother enrolled him.

During high school, he was on the school's wrestling team at a weight class of 160 pounds, placing 2nd in the San Diego Section competition and 7th in California his senior year, graduating in 1991. When he was 10, Lopez was discovered by a talent agent at a dance recital. Initially, he worked in local commercials and advertisements before making TV appearances. He started acting in 1984 when he appeared as younger brother Tomas in the short-lived ABC comedy series "a.k.a. Pablo." That same year, he was cast as a drummer and dancer on "Kids Incorporated," performing on three seasons.

In March 1987, Lopez was cast as a guest star in "The Golden Girls" as a Latino boy, Mario, who faces deportation. He was also cast in a small part in the movie "Colors" as Felipe's friend. In 1989, Lopez was cast as A.C. Slater in the television sitcom "Saved by the Bell" and its spinoff "Saved by the Bell: The College Years," a role which lasted five years. In 2015, he reunited with Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, and Dennis Haskins on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," where they appeared in a "Saved by the Bell" sketch with Fallon. In 2020, he reprised the role of A.C. Slater in Peacock's sequel series, "Saved by the Bell."

In 1997, he starred as Olympic diver Greg Louganis in the TV movie "Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story." In 1998, he was cast as Bobby Cruz in the series "Pacific Blue" for two seasons before it was canceled after the fifth season. Then, he guest starred on "Eve,” "Resurrection Blvd," and "The Bad Girls Guide."

What religion is Mario Lopez?

Mario Lopez grew up in a Catholic household and still practices the religion, attending church weekly. After six years of dating, Lopez married Ali Landry in 2004 in a Catholic ceremony at the Las Alamandas resort outside Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but their marriage was annulled shortly after. When his daughter Gia was born, Lopez told OK! Magazine, "I come from a big, loud Mexican Catholic family. My sister also has three kids, so I'm used to a bunch of babies being around."