Earlier this week, we announced the exciting news that Emmy Award winner Mario Lopez was joining the Great American Media family. The former “Saved by the Bell” star signed a multi-picture, multi-year deal, and his first film is set to air during the 2024 Great American Christmas festivities.
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"Throughout my career, I’ve aimed to create a body of work that appeals to diverse audiences and, above all, brings joy to people," Lopez said in a statement. "Joining Great American Media is immensely fulfilling. I look forward to creating uplifting, inclusive, and diverse content, viewed through a positive lens for all ages."
And while many are probably familiar with Lopez’s work from his 40 years in the entertainment industry, we wanted to do a formal introduction so you could learn a little bit more beyond his roles as an actor and television host.
Mario Lopez’s Family Is His Top Priority
Lopez is quite the family man these days. He met his wife, Courtney, while working on Broadway and the couple was married in 2012. They also have three kids: Gia, 13, Dominic, 10, and Santino, 4, who are regularly featured on the star’s social media - whether that be dancing, attending their extracurriculars or just goofing around.
“I’m always working but I manage to always have breakfast with the kids and be home for dinner,” he said in a 2022 interview. “Oftentimes I also make their practices — Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling for my sons — and on the weekends I’m usually attending my daughter’s gymnastics meets.”
Lopez’s commitment to family makes him a perfect fit for Great American Media, which is committed to creating films and series that celebrate faith, family and country. In fact, we’re keeping it all in the family for Lopez’ Great American Family debut: his wife will co-star in his Great American Christmas movie!
His Faith Is a Huge Part of His Life
Lopez was raised Catholic and has become more outspoken about his faith in recent years. He and pal Mark Wahlberg went viral in 2023 after appearing in a Sunday reel on Wahlberg’s page encouraging fans to “stay prayed up.
“Gotta build spiritual muscle as well,” Lopez said, echoing his own words from a 2015 interview about his faith.
“I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve just tried to build a more spiritual muscle in a business that is very unpredictable,” he said at the time. “It’s nice to have something that is consistent in our life — family and faith is that for me.”
In 2018, Lopez also made headlines after being baptized in the Jordan River, the same place Jesus was baptized. In fact, his public display of faith inspired others to be baptized that same day!
He Has a Passion for Dancing
Dance was a part of Mario Lopez’s life long before he tangoed his way to a second-place finish on the third season of “Dancing with the Stars.” His mom put him in dance classes when he was just 3 years old and it has become one of his passions over the years.
Not only is his wife a professional dancer, but his daughter also dances and the whole family has been known to do choreographed dances together on TikTok.
"She's like a little Paula Abdul,” said about his daughter in an interview last year. “She will learn the dances on TikTok, show them to me [and] my wife [Courtney], and then we'll record them.”
More Interesting Facts About Mario Lopez
- He enjoys boxing and has achieved the rank of purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As a kid he did wrestling and karate.
- He turned 50 in October!
- He won two Emmy Awards as host of “Access Hollywood.”
- He’s a self-described “Mama’s boy” and only agreed to do “Dancing with the Stars” because she wanted him to!
- He was born in Chula Vista, a border town in California. His parents are from Culiacan, Sinaloa, in Mexico and immigrated to the United States.
- He started acting when he was 10 years old, but his parents ensured he had a normal childhood.
- His big break came when he was cast as high school jock A.C. Slater on “Saved by the Bell.”
How to Watch Mario Lopez on Great American Family?
We hope this helped you learn more about Mario Lopez! Stay tuned for more information about his first Great American film later this year.
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