The charismatic Mario Lopez was born Oct. 10, 1973, in San Diego, Calif. Attending Chula Vista High School, he loved athletics, especially wrestling, although his true passion was dancing.
In the early 1980s, Lopez was a dancer and drummer on the popular television show Kids Incorporated, a program that also featured future stars Stacy Ferguson ( now known as Fergie ) and Jennifer Love Hewitt. In 1989, Lopez began his popular role as A.C. Slater in the television comedy series Saved By The Bell, making men and women set their alarms to wake up on Saturday mornings to swoon over the handsome, ripped and dimpled young man.
Lopez has appeared on several television programs and has hosted various shows, including Name Your Adventure ( 1993 ) , The Other Half ( 2001 ) , Pet Star ( 2002 ) and Miss America ( 2007 ) . He is currently a host on the daily entertainment news show Extra. Lopez once hosted Miss Teen USA ( 1993 ) , where he met beauty queen and co-host Ali Landry, whom he married. However, the union was annulled after a few weeks, reportedly due in part to indiscretions at his bachelor party the day before the wedding.
In 2006, Lopez's dancing with the striking Karina Smirnoff on Dancing With The Stars was beyond spectacular; the pair lost in the final round, although a romance between them continued. Also, his steamy, naked shower scene on the TV show Nip/Tuck has been seen by thousands of people. In 2007, Lopez was named #1 Best Beach Body by OK magazine.
On Oct. 12, Lopez arrived to celebrate his birthday at Chicago's Crobar, walking onto the red carpet in a white shirt and blue jeans. Lopez posed for my camera, and he seemed genuinely warm, completely natural and very happy with his life.
Photo of Mario Lopez taken Oct. 12 by Steve Starr
Steve Starr is the author of Picture Perfect-Art Deco Photo Frames 1926-1946, published by Rizzoli International Publications. A photographer, writer, designer and artist, he is the owner of Steve Starr Studios.
Steve Starr's column, STARRLIGHT, appears regularly in various publications including IMAGE Chicago Magazine, Entertainment Magazine Online-EMOL.org/reporters/Starr, the Windy City Times, Extra! and the Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine, and has been printed in Skyline, the Modern, and Vibralatino. Visit www.SteveStarrStudios.com where you can enter The Starrlight Room and view a portion of his frame collection, read Starrlight stories, and enjoy photos, letters, and autographs that he has received from his favorite luminaries.
STARRGAZERS-Radiant Photography by Steve Starr is available for portraits and events.
Phone 773-252-5171. You can email Steve Starr at ssschicago@ameritech.net