Mario Lopez has turned 50, marking practically 35 years since he first debuted as star athlete AC Slater on the iconic sitcom Saved by the Bell. From the halls of Bayside Excessive to a diversified profession in Hollywood, Lopez has navigated a path many baby stars wrestle to tread—certainly one of enduring success.

Rising up in Chula Vista, simply south of San Diego, Lopez was a standout highschool wrestler. Nonetheless, 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 ultimately, performing.

From ’90s Heartthrob to Hardest Working Man in Hollywood

Within the late Nineteen Eighties, one pivotal audition modified the whole lot, steering his course towards the highlight. Initially tailor-made after John Travolta’s character Vinnie Barbarino character from Welcome Again 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. At present, the Entry 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 well-liked On with Mario Lopez podcast and nonetheless matches in numerous TV and movie roles. In early 2024, Lopez, be internet hosting the Sport Present Community’s new Clean Slate. Subsequent yr, Lopez will even be honored by getting a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame.

Regardless of 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 struggle nights in Las Vegas or every other sporting occasion. Lately nevertheless, as a result of lengthy nights can take a toll on an older physique, Lopez has grow to be much more selective balancing evenings out and sleeping in to take care of such a busy way of life.

“I work onerous and I wish to play onerous,” Lopez says. “However I’m extra selective now. I prioritize relaxation, which implies saying no generally. I used to wish to do the whole lot, however studying to say ‘no’ has helped convey stability to my life.”

Boxing and Brazilian Jiujitsu Preserve 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 or not it’s squeezing in pushups throughout a lodge keep or attending an everyday exercise together with his spouse, Lopez finds methods to maintain energetic.

Including 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 frequently evolving as an individual,” Lopez explains. “It calls for persistence and tranquility, quite than brute power. This mindset extends past the mat into on a regular basis life. Staying constant is the important thing to progress.”

With an early morning routine revolving round armbars, triangles, and faucet outs, the aim for the present purple belt is to maintain working persistently towards BJJ’s final accomplishment—a black belt. To maintain transferring ahead, Lopez is aware of the important thing generally must be to reduce—barely—from his Slater-era days of at all times all-out efforts.

“I strive to not essentially practice tougher however smarter, and meaning understanding when to relaxation and be disciplined, and never simply go, go, go,” he says. “I’m extra aware about stretching and relaxation, however apart from that, I’m nonetheless going 100 miles an hour.”

At all times Household First. Then Health

When his exercises are full, Lopez’s position as father and mentor as soon as once more take over. Right here, by channeling his mom’s early steerage and recalling his personal “common” highschool expertise, Lopez and his spouse purpose to steer their three kids, ages 4, 10, and 13, down a equally eclectic path.

“I performed sports activities, went to promenade, and graduated my class. Saved by the Bell was simply my job, not who I used to be,” he displays. “So I wish to expose my youngsters to plenty of issues, but additionally preserve them busy sufficient to maintain them out of bother. I would like them to be sensible, good, respectful, well mannered, and emotionally powerful youngsters. However most significantly I wish to present them that there are not any shortcuts in life and instill a powerful work ethic. In order that’s what I attempt to do each day.”