Mario Lopez Biography



Mario Lopez
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Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez with his co-star from A Chorus Line Jessica Lee Goldyn on August 14, 2008
Born Mario Lopez, Jr.
October 10, 1973 (1973-10-10) (age 35)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor; Host
Years active 1984 ─ present
Spouse(s) Ali Landry 2004 (annulled)
Official website

Mario López, Jr. (born October 10, 1973) is an American actor who has appeared on several television series, film and performed on Broadway. He first became well known for his portrayal of the character A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell.

Contents

Early life

Lopez was born in San Diego, the son of Elvia, a telephone clerk, and Mario Lopez, Sr., who worked for the municipality of National City.1 His parents were born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.citation needed Lopez was a high school wrestler. During the Creative and Performing Arts in Chula Vista, California. He graduated high school in the year 1990 and continued his career as an actor and host.

Career

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Lopez's professional career began in 1985 when he appeared as younger brother yup Tomás in the short-lived ABC comedy series a.k.a. Pablo. In that same year, he was cast as a drummer and dancer on Kids Incorporated. Mario is a capable drummer and has been seen in his many television roles playing the instrument. Also, he appeared on The Golden Girls as a student of Dorothy's, preparing for deportation. In 1989, Lopez was cast as A.C. Slater in the popular television sitcom Saved by the Bell, a role which lasted five years. Lopez's character was a masculine, athletic student, helping to garner the actor a sizeable teenage-girl fan base. He maintains a close friendship with castmate Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Also on the nick at nite show George Lopez as the police officer guest starring. Since his stint on Saved by the Bell, Lopez has enjoyed a career as host of a variety of television contest shows. He hosted Pet Star on the Animal Planet channel and was co-host of ESPN2's ESPN Hollywood. He is the captain of the L.A. Armed Response team on GSN's Extreme Dodgeball. Like fellow Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond, he was featured as a celebrity guest on The Weakest Link.

In 1991, Lopez was on American Gladiators, where he survived the 3 round competition winning $20,000. He then emceed the second season of the Family Channel game show Masters of the Maze.

He was also one of the co-hosts of the syndicated talk show The Other Half, which aired from 2001-2003. It was a male version of the female ensemble talk show The View, featuring four male co-hosts, including Danny Bonaduce and executive producer, Dick Clark.

As late as 2001, Lopez' likeness was featured in the Disneyland attraction Space Mountain in Anaheim. He played a space captain that informed guests of the adventure-to-come while they waited in queue for the ride.

In March 2006, he joined the cast of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful playing the role of Dr. Christian Ramirez. On July 18, 2006, Lopez was released from his B&B contract. He guest-starred as a plastic surgeon who drives Christian Troy to jealousy when he sees him naked in the shower in an episode of FX Network's Nip/Tuck during the show's fourth season, which began in Fall 2006.

In the fall of 2006, Lopez appeared as a celebrity contestant for the third season of ABC's Dancing With the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, who made her series debut. Lopez's strong start in the program left some viewers wondering whether he had received dance training prior to joining the series. Initially, he said that he had not received any formal training, but he later revealed that, though he hasn't had formal ballroom training, he has studied tap and hip hop styles. He finished second to Emmitt Smith.

He was announced as a celebrity guest host for the syndicated entertainment news magazine show Extra on January 12, 2006. His first assignment was covering the Golden Globes.

Lopez was scheduled to be color commentator for the first EliteXC mixed martial arts event alongside pro-wrestler Bill Goldberg, but was inexplicably replaced at the last minute.

Lopez is both the host with Carmen Palumbo and co-executive producer of Sí TV's Dating Factory.

On March 12, 2007, Lopez auditioned in a not-for-air episode of The Price is Right to take over for the retiring Bob Barker.2

Lopez has hosted prime time television pageants; Miss Teen USA in 1998, 2003 and August 2007; Miss America in January 2007; and Miss Universe in May 2007, giving him the distinction of being the only individual to have served in hosting capacity for both of the major pageant system organizations. The 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant Lopez hosted became particularly known for Caitlin Upton's incoherent response to a question posed to her in the final question round of the competition, the video of which became an Internet meme.

Lopez is currently hosting the MTV reality show America's Best Dance Crew and MTV's Top Pop Group.

Lopez was featured in the third season of Mind of Mencia. After appearing on Nip/Tuck the nude shots from the shower appeared on the internet, but only his buttocks are exposed.

In 2007, Lopez— became an official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called the Friends of RMHC.3

In 2008, he appeared in the made for television movie Husband for Hire. On June 20, 2008, Lopez was named People's Hottest Bachelor.

Lopez will take over as weekday host of the syndicated news show Extra beginning on September 15, 2008. 4

Broadway

Lopez made his Broadway debut on April 15, 2008, in the revival of A Chorus Line in the role of Zach. 56

Personal life

Lopez was married to Ali Landry for two weeks but the marriage ended on May 15, 2004. The marriage was annulled over alleged infidelities committed by Lopez during the relationship, and particularly the week leading up to the wedding. There have been rumors that Lopez is gay, to which he responded on Mind of Mencia by doing a Brokeback Mountain parody as well as a monologue about how it is not true.7

Lopez was recently dating Karina Smirnoff. However, on June 4, 2008, Smirnoff confirmed that she and Lopez are no longer an item.8

Lopez is an avid boxing fan. He was seen on camera during the Floyd Mayweather vs Ricky Hatton fight. He also commentates for Top Rank on overseas broadcasts of Manny Pacquiao fights.

Mario has a sister named Marissa, who is married to former NFL linebacker Kailee Wong.

He is still very good friends with fellow Saved by the Bell star and on-screen girlfriend Elizabeth Berkley, who came to support him while he was taking part in Dancing with the Stars.

Filmography

Broadway

Preceded by
J. D. Roth		 Host of Masters of the Maze
1995–1996		 Succeeded by
series cancelled
Preceded by
Nancy O'Dell and Carlos Ponce		 Hosts of Miss Universe with Vanessa Minnillo
2007		 Succeeded by
Jerry Springer and Melanie Brown

References

  1. ^ Mario Lopez Biography (1973-)
  2. ^ Twomey, Colin (2006-11-09). "Which Host is Right?", The Harvard Independent. Retrieved on 18 March 2007. 
  3. ^ "Celebrity Friends of RMHC". McDonald's Corporation.
  4. ^ "Mario Lopez Will Host `Extra`". Pophangover TV News.
  5. ^ "PHOTO CALL: Mario Lopez Honored with Painting at Tony's Di Napoli". Playbill News.
  6. ^ Mario Lopez Joins 'A Chorus Line' on April 15 (BroadwayWorld.com)
  7. ^ Mind of Mencia - Wetback Mountain - SPIKE
  8. ^ "Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff Split", Celebuzz.com (2008-06-05). 

External links

Sister project Wikinews has related news: Mario Lopez favored to win Dancing with the Stars
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