Mario Lopez is an American actor and television personality whose career has lasted more than four decades. Born on October 10, 1973, in Chula Vista, California, he first gained attention as a child performer before becoming a household name as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell. He later established himself as a successful television host, appearing on Extra, Access Hollywood and other entertainment programs. At 52 years old in 2026, Lopez continues to work in acting, hosting and producing.
Mario Lopez Age: Quick Bio
| Profile | Full Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mario Lopez Jr. |
| Date of Birth | October 10, 1973 |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 10 in–5 ft 11 in (1.78–1.80 m) |
| Mario Lopez Age | 52 years old |
| Birthplace | Chula Vista, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Television Host, Radio Personality, Author and Producer |
| Famous For | Playing A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell |
| Nickname | Mario |
| Parents | Mario Alberto Lopez Pérez Sr. and Elvira Soledad Trasviña |
| Sibling | Marissa Lopez, younger sister |
| Family | Parents Mario and Elvira, sister Marissa, wife Courtney and three children |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Courtney Lopez |
| Marriage Date | December 1, 2012 |
| Previous Wife | Ali Landry; their 2004 marriage was annulled shortly afterward |
| Children / Kids | Three — Gia, Dominic and Santino |
| Daughter | Gia Lopez |
| Sons | Dominic Lopez and Santino Lopez |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Education | Graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1991. |
| Career Began | 1984, as a child actor |
| Years Active | 1984–present |
| Breakthrough Role | A.C. Slater in Saved by the Bell |
| Major TV Series | Saved by the Bell, Saved by the Bell: The College Years and Pacific Blue |
| Major Hosting Work | Extra, Access Hollywood, America’s Best Dance Crew, The X Factor and Pet Star |
| Broadway Debut | A Chorus Line in 2008 |
| Dancing with the Stars | Competed in Season 3 and finished second place |
| Radio Career | Hosted ON with Mario Lopez |
| Books | Mario Lopez Knockout Fitness, Extra Lean, Extra Lean Family and Mario and Baby Gia |
| Fitness Interests | Boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling and dance |
| Hobbies / Interests | Fitness, martial arts, dancing, acting and spending time with family |
| Net Worth | Estimated at approximately $35 million |
| Source of Wealth | Acting, television hosting, radio, books, producing and entertainment work |
| @mariolopez | |
| Current Career | Active actor, television host, producer and entertainment personality |
| Career Highlight | Built a four-decade entertainment career from child acting to television stardom and major hosting roles |
| Children’s Careers | His son Dominic Lopez has begun working as a child actor, following his father’s path. |
| Fitness Achievement | Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and longtime amateur boxer |
| High School Achievement | Competed in wrestling and finished second in the San Diego Section and seventh in California as a senior. |
Mario Lopez Images
A Timeline Mario Lopez Public Career
| Year | Career Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Began his professional acting career with a.k.a. Pablo and also appeared on Kids Incorporated as a dancer and drummer. |
| 1987 | Guest-starred on The Golden Girls. |
| 1988 | Appeared in the film Colors. |
| 1989 | Landed his breakthrough role as A.C. Slater in Saved by the Bell. |
| 1992 | Hosted Name Your Adventure and appeared in Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style. |
| 1993–1994 | Reprised A.C. Slater in Saved by the Bell: The College Years. |
| 1997 | Portrayed Olympic diver Greg Louganis in the television film Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story. |
| 1998–2000 | Starred as Bobby Cruz in the television series Pacific Blue. |
| 2001–2003 | Became a television host on The Other Half. |
| 2002–2005 | Hosted Pet Star. |
| 2006 | Competed on Season 3 of Dancing with the Stars and finished second place. |
| 2008 | Made his Broadway debut in A Chorus Line and became a host of Extra. |
| 2010 | Returned as A.C. Slater in Saved by the Bell reunions and launched the reality series Mario Lopez: Saved by the Baby. |
| 2012 | Co-hosted the second season of The X Factor USA with Khloé Kardashian. |
| 2013–2018 | Continued major entertainment-hosting work while expanding his acting, radio and publishing career. |
| 2020 | Reprised A.C. Slater in Peacock’s Saved by the Bell revival and appeared as Colonel Sanders in A Recipe for Seduction. |
| 2024 | Signed a multi-year agreement with Great American Media, expanding his work in television and family entertainment. |
| 2025 | Continued acting and hosting, including voice work in Zootopia 2. |
| 2026 | Remains active as an actor, television host and entertainment personality. His son Dominic has also begun pursuing acting, giving Lopez a new connection to the next generation of performers. |
Mario Lopez Family
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Mario Alberto Lopez Pérez Sr. |
| Mother | Elvira Soledad Trasviña |
| Sister | Marissa Lopez |
| Wife | Courtney Lopez |
| Marriage | Mario and Courtney married on December 1, 2012. |
| Daughter | Gia Francesca Lopez |
| Son | Dominic Lopez |
| Son | Santino Rafael Lopez |
| Children | Three children |
| Previous Wife | Ali Landry — their 2004 marriage was annulled. |
| Family Career Connection | His son Dominic Lopez has started working as a child actor, following his father’s path into entertainment. |
Mario Lopez Social Media Accounts
| Platform | Account |
|---|---|
| @mariolopez | |
| X / Twitter | @MarioLopezExtra |
| Mario Lopez | |
| Official Website | MarioLopez.net |