Mario López, Jr. (born October 10, 1973) is a Mexican-American actor, born in San Diego, California, USA.


Career
His first role at the age of 11 was as the drummer and dancer on Kids Incorporated in 1984. López is a capable drummer and has been seen in his many television roles playing the instrument. López became known in the early 1990s as A.C. Slater in the popular television sitcom Saved by the Bell. López's character was a muscular, athletic student, which helped garner the actor a sizeable teenage-girl fan base. He also maintains a close friendship with fellow castmate Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Since his stint on Saved by the Bell and the show's spin-offs, 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 also featured as a celebrity guest on The Weakest Link.

At least as late at 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.

López played the role of Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis in the made-for-television movie Breaking the Surface, based on Louganis's autobiography.

In March 2006, he joined the cast of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful playing the role of Dr. Christian Ramirez. As of July 18, 2006, he will be released from his B&B contract, but may continue with the show on a recurring basis.

He will guest star as a plastic surgeon who drives Christian to jealousy over his good looks in at least one episode of Nip/Tuck during the show's fourth season, which begins in Fall 2006.

On August 14, 2006 it was announced that Lopez was going to be on Dancing With the Stars.