Biography

While only in his early 20s, actor Mario Lopez successfully worked his way out of a career rut. After skillfully avoiding the traps of ethnic typecasting, easily playing Latinos, Italians, Anglos and those of mixed and unspecified extraction, the handsome curly-haired actor found himself in another bind, having to overcome the lack of credibility surrounding his long-running stint on the very popular kids sitcom "Saved By the Bell" (NBC). His prolific television work following the series' end and his willingness to take on challenging and varied projects helped to separate the actor from A.C. Slater, his character on the show.
Lopez began to study dance at age three and by age 10 was discovered at a talent competition by an agent and encouraged to try an acting career. Soon after, he was cast on the short-lived sitcom "a.k.a. Pablo" (ABC, 1984), a series starring Paul Rodriguez as a Mexican-American comedian whose assimilated parents disapprove of his ethnic-based humor. Before long, Lopez was a featured supporting player on the syndicated children's music series "Kids Incorporated", putting his dancing skills to good use from 1984 to 1986. He began landing guest roles on primetime series, including a memorable appearance in a 1987 episode of "The Golden Girls", playing an inspiring young student of Dorothy's who risks deportation because of his prize-winning essay on coming to America. The following year Lopez made his feature debut in "Colors", a police drama set amid gang tensions in East L.A.

In 1989, the young actor landed a role on the popular high school set Saturday morning comedy series "Saved By the Bell", playing confident jock A.C. Slater, friend and chief rival of schemer Zack. During his four seasons as Slater, Lopez won countless young fans, and graced the pages of many a teenage pinup magazine. Loyal to the franchise, Lopez 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). Having captured the youth audience, he landed work as host of NBC's unique home viewer participatory series "Name Your Adventure" (1992-93) and the action-packed game show "Masters of the Maze" (1995) for The Family Channel.

Best known for his somewhat fluffy youth-aimed work, Lopez was featured in the dark, high school revenge NBC TV-movie "Killing Mr. Griffin", but was more impressive with a surprisingly adept and sensitive turn as the legendary Olympic diver in the USA Network presentation "Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story" (1997), based on the athlete's own memoirs. Lopez capably handled the traumas of Louganis' life, dealing with racism, homophobia and dyslexia as well as his triumphs, becoming a uniquely celebrated diver and taking four Olympic gold medals. The muscular actor lost ten pounds and sculpted his powerful wrestler's physique into a leaner diver's body for his role in the biopic, and stepped up to the acting challenge as well, proving an engaging screen presence and showing his ability to easily handle material beyond his limited "Saved by the Bell" work.

Lopez could next be seen on television with a regular role on the USA Network's crime series "Pacific Blue", as one of a group of bike patrol officers who often go undercover to eliminate the insidious criminal element in the beach communities of Southern California. The actor joined the cast in 1998 as Bobby Cruz, the team's resident angry young man, a former LAPD officer who was ousted from the force for use of excessive force. Lopez's portrayal of the tormented Cruz subtly uncovered the character's residual rage, suffering with his parents' senseless and unavenged death at the hands of a drunk driver acquitted due to political connections.

After successfully establishing a new screen persona, Lopez returned to feature work with a starring role in the direct-to-video sci-fi thriller "Absolution" (1998) and as co-star of the higher profile action adventure "The Padre of Santa Rosa" (lensed 2000), alongside Jimmy Smits.

Filmography

King Rikki (2002) .... Juan Vallejo
... aka Street King, The (2002) (USA: video title)
Outta Time (2002) .... David Morales
... aka Courier, The (2002/II)
... aka Out of Time (2002) (Europe: English title)
"Other Half, The" (2001) TV Series .... Co- Host (2001-)
Crack in the Floor, A (2000) .... Lehman
Big Brother Trouble (2000) .... Coach
Eastside (1999) .... Antonio Lopez
"Pacific Blue" (1995) TV Series .... Bobby Cruz (1998-2000)
"Match Game" (1998) TV Series .... Himself/panelist
Journey: Absolution, The (1997) .... Ryan Murphy
Killing Mr. Griffin (1997) (TV) .... Dave Ruggles
Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story (1997) (TV) .... Greg Louganis
Depraved (1996) .... Jessie Mata
Fever Lake (1996) .... Steve
"Masters of the Maze" (1994) TV Series .... Host (1995)
Cóndor de oro, El (1995) .... BodyGuard2
Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas (1994) (TV) .... Albert Clifford 'A.C.' Slater
"Name Your Adventure" (1993) TV Series .... Co-host
"Saved by the Bell: The College Years" (1993) TV Series .... A.C. Slater
Big Boys Don't Cry (1993) (TV)
Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style (1992) (TV) .... Albert Clifford 'A.C.' Slater
Circus of the Stars #14 (1989) (TV) .... Performer (Trapeze Artist)
"Saved by the Bell" (1989) TV Series .... Albert Clifford 'A.C.' Slater
Colors (1988) .... Felipe's Friend
Last Fling, The (1987) (TV)
Chartbusters (1986) (V)
Kids Incorporated: Rock In the New Year (1986) (TV) .... Dancer
Deacon Street Deer, The (1986) (TV) .... Hector
"Kids Incorporated" (1984) TV Series .... Dancer/Drummer (1984-1986)
"a.k.a. Pablo" (1984) TV Series .... Tomas Del Gato