Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank EPA/MIKE NELSON
Beloved actor Mario Lopez is celebrating his 45th birthday on October 10, 2018!
After a small start on television in the mid ’80s, Lopez’s big break came in 1989 when he began starring on Saved by the Bell as Albert Clifford “A.C.” Slater at only 16 years old. He went on to reprise the iconic role in Saved by the Bell: The College Years and in two episodes of Saved by the Bell: The New Class. He continued acting with roles in many shows including Pacific Blue, The Bold and the Beautiful and Nip/Tuck. He regained popularity after he appeared on Dancing With the Stars in the show’s third season with his pro partner and then-girlfriend Karina Smirnoff where the duo came in second place. Lopez has also become one of TV’s most popular hosting personalities with his hosting duties of Extra, America’s Best Dance Crew and The X Factor.
As for his personal life, Lopez married actress Ali Landry in April of 2004, but the marriage was annulled after only two weeks. He went on to date his Dancing With the Stars partner Karina Smirnoff in 2006, but the pair broke up in 2008. In the fall of 2008, he met Courtney Mazza and the pair were married on December 1, 2012. Together they have welcomed daughter Gia Francesca and son Dominic.
In honor of his 45th birthday, take a look back at his beloved role in the most memorable episodes of Saved by the Bell:
The 11 Most Memorable Episodes Of Saved By The Bell
11. “The Fabulous Belding Boys” S2, E15
While the show is cheesy and innocent, especially in comparison to the problems of youth today that many show’s portray, Saved By the Bell had its sincere and heartfelt moments, and one of the most memorable was thanks to the episode “The Fabulous Belding Boys.” All through the show Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) tries to be friends with the kids but also has to be the one to scold them every time something goes wrong, which made the gang very happy to be introduced to Mr. Belding’s younger, cooler, “surfer-dude” brother. Aside from the fact his name is Rod and Mr. Belding’s is Richard making them Rod and Dick, they are complete opposites. As Rod Belding steps in to substitute teach he gives the kids the grades they want and allows their “senior class trip” to be a whitewater rafting trip; however, he quickly ditches them for a hot airplane stewardess, leaving Mr. Belding to step in. This episode shows us that although Mr. Belding has to be the one to punish the kids when they screw up, it also shows how much he really cares about them.
Source: NBC