Mario Lopez Jr. (born October 10, 1973) is an American actor and
entertainment journalist. He has appeared on several television
series, in films, and on Broadway. He is known for his portrayal of
A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell and Saved by the Bell: The College
Years. He has appeared in numerous projects since, including the third
season of Dancing with the Stars and as host for the syndicated
entertainment news magazine show Extra. He has also hosted America's
Best Dance Crew for MTV. In 2012, he co-hosted the second season of
American version of The X Factor with Khloé Kardashian, and was the
sole host for the third and final season.Lopez was born on October 10,
1973, in San Diego, California, to Elvira, a telephone company clerk,
and Mario Sr., who worked for the municipality of National City. He
has a younger sister named Marissa, who is married to NFL Minnesota
Vikings and Houston Texans linebacker Kailee Wong. Lopez was raised in
a large Catholic family of Mexican descent (from Culiacán, Sinaloa,
Mexico). Lopez was a child prodigy and started to learn dance at the
age of three, training in tap and jazz. He also did tumbling, karate
and wrestling at his local Boys and Girls Club when he was 7 years
old, which he excelled at as well as other things his mother put him
in. During his acting career, he was an amateur wrestler for Chula
Vista at the weight class of 160 lbs, and was also in his high school
wrestling team, placing 2nd in the San Diego Section and 7th in the
state of California in his senior year while attending Chula Vista
High School, where he graduated in 1991.Lopez was discovered by a
talent agent at a dance recital when he was 10 years old. He got into
local ads and commercials before making TV appearances.
entertainment journalist. He has appeared on several television
series, in films, and on Broadway. He is known for his portrayal of
A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell and Saved by the Bell: The College
Years. He has appeared in numerous projects since, including the third
season of Dancing with the Stars and as host for the syndicated
entertainment news magazine show Extra. He has also hosted America's
Best Dance Crew for MTV. In 2012, he co-hosted the second season of
American version of The X Factor with Khloé Kardashian, and was the
sole host for the third and final season.Lopez was born on October 10,
1973, in San Diego, California, to Elvira, a telephone company clerk,
and Mario Sr., who worked for the municipality of National City. He
has a younger sister named Marissa, who is married to NFL Minnesota
Vikings and Houston Texans linebacker Kailee Wong. Lopez was raised in
a large Catholic family of Mexican descent (from Culiacán, Sinaloa,
Mexico). Lopez was a child prodigy and started to learn dance at the
age of three, training in tap and jazz. He also did tumbling, karate
and wrestling at his local Boys and Girls Club when he was 7 years
old, which he excelled at as well as other things his mother put him
in. During his acting career, he was an amateur wrestler for Chula
Vista at the weight class of 160 lbs, and was also in his high school
wrestling team, placing 2nd in the San Diego Section and 7th in the
state of California in his senior year while attending Chula Vista
High School, where he graduated in 1991.Lopez was discovered by a
talent agent at a dance recital when he was 10 years old. He got into
local ads and commercials before making TV appearances.
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