Mario Lopez has turned 50, marking almost 35 years since he first debuted as star athlete AC Slater on the iconic sitcom Saved by the Bell. From the halls of Bayside High to a diversified profession in Hollywood, Lopez has navigated a path many baby stars wrestle to tread—one in all enduring success.
Growing up in Chula Vista, simply south of San Diego, Lopez was a standout highschool wrestler. However, his mom, who emigrated from Mexico, sought a broader upbringing for her kids that went past simply sports activities. Thus, Lopez discovered himself immersed within the arts—music, singing, dancing, and finally, appearing.
From ’90s Heartthrob to Hardest Working Man in Hollywood
In the late Nineteen Eighties, one pivotal audition modified every little thing, steering his course towards the highlight. Initially tailor-made after John Travolta’s character Vinnie Barbarino character from Welcome Back Kotter, the producers reimagined the position to work Lopez’s athletic prowess and creative inclinations into the AC Slater character.
This formative expertise paved the way in which for a flourishing profession that seamlessly blended athletics and the humanities, a lot to the delight of audiences worldwide. Today, the Access Hollywood co-host juggles quite a few initiatives, together with lately co-producing the HBO documentary The Golden Boy about boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya. He additionally hosts his widespread On with Mario Lopez podcast and nonetheless matches in varied TV and movie roles. In early 2024, Lopez, be internet hosting the Game Show Network’s new Blank Slate. Next yr, Lopez may even be honored by getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite hitting the half-century mark, his workload and tempo stay regular yr spherical. Lopez nonetheless finds the time to unwind, as he can noticed at Dodgers video games, or combat nights in Las Vegas or another sporting occasion. These days nevertheless, as a result of lengthy nights can take a toll on an older physique, Lopez has turn out to be much more selective balancing evenings out and sleeping in to take care of such a busy life-style.
“I work hard and I like to play hard,” Lopez says. “But I’m more selective now. I prioritize rest, which means saying no sometimes. I used to want to do everything, but learning to say ‘no’ has helped bring balance to my life.”
Boxing and Brazilian Jiujitsu Keep Mario Lopez Shredded
Even amidst his demanding schedule, the married father of three makes his well being and health a precedence, sustaining the chiseled six-pack that made him a teen heartthrob within the 80s and 90s. Whether it’s squeezing in pushups throughout a lodge keep or attending a daily exercise together with his spouse, Lopez finds methods to maintain lively.
Adding to Lopez seamless invincibility has been the addition of Brazilian jiujitsu to his health routine, a pure step from his boxing ardour and wrestling background.
“With jiujitsu, you’re continually evolving as a person,” Lopez explains. “It demands patience and calmness, rather than brute force. This mindset extends beyond the mat into everyday life. Staying consistent is the key to progress.”
With an early morning routine revolving round armbars, triangles, and faucet outs, the objective for the present purple belt is to maintain working persistently towards BJJ’s final accomplishment—a black belt. To preserve shifting ahead, Lopez is aware of the important thing typically must be to cut back—barely—from his Slater-era days of all the time all-out efforts.
“I try not to necessarily train harder but smarter, and that means knowing when to rest and be disciplined, and not just go, go, go,” he says. “I’m more conscious about stretching and rest, but other than that, I’m still going 100 miles an hour.”
Always Family First. Then Fitness
When his exercises are full, Lopez’s position as father and mentor as soon as once more take over. Here, by channeling his mom’s early steering and recalling his personal “regular” highschool expertise, Lopez and his spouse goal to steer their three kids, ages 4, 10, and 13, down a equally eclectic path.
“I played sports, went to prom, and graduated my class. Saved by the Bell was just my job, not who I was,” he displays. “So I want to expose my kids to a lot of things, but also keep them busy enough to keep them out of trouble. I want them to be smart, good, respectful, polite, and emotionally tough kids. But most importantly I want to show them that there are no shortcuts in life and instill a strong work ethic. So that’s what I try to do every day.”