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Mark-Paul Gosselaar

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Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Gosselaar at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2023
Born
Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar

(1974-03-01) March 1, 1974 (age 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationWilliam S. Hart High School
Occupation(s)Actor, model
Years active1986–present
Spouses
  • Lisa Ann Russell
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1996; div. 2011)​
  • Catriona McGinn
    ​
    (m. 2012)​
Children4

Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar (/ˈɡɒslər/;[1] born March 1, 1974[2]) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Zack Morris in the NBC series Saved by the Bell. In 1991, he won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in an Off-Primetime Series.

He also played Paul Johnson in the ABC sitcom series Mixed-ish, Detective John Clark Jr. in NYPD Blue, and Peter Bash in the TNT legal series Franklin & Bash. He was also the lead in the 1998 film Dead Man on Campus. He later starred in the Fox TV series Pitch (2016) and The Passage (2019). He reprised the role of Zack Morris in a recurring capacity for the Peacock sequel series Saved by the Bell (2020) and stars in the NBC procedural drama Found (2023).

Early life

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Gosselaar was born in Panorama City, Los Angeles, the son of Paula (née van den Brink), a homemaker and hostess for KLM, and Hans Gosselaar, a plant supervisor for Anheuser-Busch.[3][4] He is the youngest of his parents' four children, and was the only one not born in the Netherlands.[4][5]

His Dutch-born father is of German and Dutch Jewish descent.[6] Gosselaar's Jewish paternal great-grandparents, Hartog and Hester Gosselaar, were murdered at the Sobibor extermination camp during the Holocaust.[7][8] His Indonesian mother, who was born in Bali, Indonesia, was a flight attendant for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.[9]

Gosselaar has described himself as "half-Asian,” and mentioned collecting things from Indonesia.[10][11][12][13][14]

Gosselaar speaks Dutch,[4][5] and was fluent for a time, at home.[10] His parents later separated.[3]

Gosselaar's mother was his manager.[12] He began modeling at the age of five,[3] and as a child, he also appeared in commercials for Cookie Crisp cereal and Smurf merchandise, later winning guest spots on television series.[15] He spent his teenage years in the Santa Clarita Valley in Southern California, where he attended Hart High School.

Gosselaar has said that his natural hair color is brown, but he was "blondish" as a kid.[16][17] His hair was dyed blond throughout his run on Saved by the Bell.[18]

Career

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Gosselaar first came to public notice as the star of the hit television comedy series Saved by the Bell, which aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993. His character, Zack Morris, was adapted from the short-lived Disney Channel sitcom Good Morning, Miss Bliss; although that show was cancelled after one season, NBC executives believed that a similar show, with Zack Morris as the lead, had potential for success. He reprised the role in two TV movies and a less-successful spin-off, Saved by the Bell: The College Years. In 1994, he appeared as Zack Morris in a second spin-off series Saved by the Bell: The New Class in the episode "Goodbye, Bayside – Part 2", along with Mario López as A.C. Slater and Lark Voorhies as Lisa Turtle.

In 1996, he appeared in the TV-film She Cried No, as a college student who date-rapes his best friend's sister at a fraternity party. In 1998, he starred in the feature film Dead Man on Campus. Later that same year, Gosselaar played the central character in the TV drama Hyperion Bay, which lasted 17 episodes. In 2001, he starred in the movie The Princess and the Marine, with Marisol Nichols. He also starred in the short-lived WB series D.C. From 2001 to 2005, he played Detective John Clark on ABC's NYPD Blue. During his time on the show, he appeared in Atomic Twister in which he played Jake Hannah, a deputy who is traumatized over his mother's death and must help after a series of tornadoes hits a nuclear power plant in a small Tennessee town; the movie also stars fellow NYPD Blue alum Sharon Lawrence, who plays Corrine Maguire. After the series ended, he joined the cast of ABC's Commander in Chief, which lasted only one season. He appeared on the HBO series John from Cincinnati. He then gained the starring role of defense attorney Jerry Kellerman in the Steven Bochco-produced Raising the Bar, which debuted on September 1, 2008, on TNT, then it was canceled in November 2009 after two seasons.[19]

Gosselaar (pictured) in 2008 at the Malibu Triathlon

On June 8, 2009, Gosselaar appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in character as Zack Morris to promote his show Raising the Bar, indicating that the name Mark-Paul Gosselaar is his stage name and declaring, as Zack, that he would participate in a Saved by the Bell "Class" reunion that is being spearheaded by Fallon.[20] On February 4, 2015, Gosselaar reunited with Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Dennis Haskins and Tiffani Thiessen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they appeared in a Saved by the Bell sketch with Fallon.[21][22][23]

In October 2009, he made his off-Broadway stage debut in Theresa Rebeck's play The Understudy with The Roundabout Theatre Company. The show extended its limited New York run until January 17, 2010.[24]

Gosselaar began filming the TNT series Franklin & Bash on March 28, 2010. The series premiered on June 1, 2011. On November 11, 2014, it was announced that the series was canceled, after four seasons.[25] The FOX series Pitch cast Gosselaar in the main role of Mike Lawson, star catcher and team captain, in February 2016, and premiered on September 22, 2016. On May 1, 2017, it was announced that the series was canceled, after one season.[26] He appeared in two episodes of Tiffani Thiessen's cooking show, Dinner at Tiffani's.

In 2019, Gosselaar began playing the lead role of Paul Jackson (Rainbow's father) in ABC comedy series Mixed-ish (spin-off and prequel series of Black-ish). He took over the role from Anders Holm, who played the character in the pilot episode.[27] Gosselaar also reprised his role as Zack Morris in the 2020 sequel series Saved by the Bell.[28]

Personal life

[edit]

In a July 2009 interview with People, Gosselaar revealed that while Saved by the Bell was in production, he dated, at different times, his three female co-stars: Lark Voorhies, Tiffani Thiessen,[29] and Elizabeth Berkley.[30] He remains friends with his Saved by the Bell cast mates.[10]

In 1996, Gosselaar married former model Lisa Ann Russell.[3] Together, they have two children: a son (b. 2004), and daughter (b. 2006).[31] After 14 years of marriage, Gosselaar and Russell announced their separation in early June 2010.[32] Gosselaar filed for divorce June 18, 2010,[33] and it became final in May 2011.[34]

Gosselaar was engaged to advertising executive Catriona McGinn in August 2011.[34] They married July 28, 2012, at the Sunstone winery in Santa Ynez, California.[35] They have a son (b. 2013),[36] and a daughter (b. 2015).[37]

Gosselaar is a sports car enthusiast, race car driver, track cyclist, dirt biker, and pilot.[38] In 2005, he competed in the Far West Championships for track cycling. He won the Category 4/5 Sprint Championship event at the Encino Velodrome.[39] He is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt under Rafael Ramos and Nelson Montiero.[40]

Gosselaar resides in Los Angeles. He sold his Sherman Oaks home in February 2022.[41]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
1993 White Wolves: A Cry in the Wild II Scott James
1994 The St. Tammany Miracle Carl
1995 Twisted Love D.J.
1996 Specimen Mike Hillary
Freshman Fall Scott
Sticks & Stones Dale
Kounterfeit Paco / Danny
1998 Dead Man on Campus Cooper Frederickson
2002 Atomic Twister Deputy Jake Hannah
2011 Hide Alex Wilson
2011 12 Dates of Christmas Miles Dufine
2015 Heist Marconi
2016 Precious Cargo Jack
2021 Kid 90 Himself
2023 The Portrait Brookes

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Highway to Heaven Rolf Baldt Episode: "The Torch"
Stingray Eric Murray Episode: "Below the Line"
The Twilight Zone Tim Conrad Episode: "What Are Friends For?"
1988 Necessary Parties Chris Mills Movie
The Wonder Years Brad Gaines Episode: "Dance with Me"
Punky Brewster Walker Wimbley Episode: "One Plus Tutor Is Three"
Charles in Charge Philip Episode: "Runaround Charles"
1988–89 Good Morning, Miss Bliss Zack Morris Lead role (13 episodes)
1989–93 Saved by the Bell Lead role (86 episodes)
1990 Murphy Brown Wes Episode: "I Want My FYI"
1992 Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style Zack Morris Movie
Blossom Kevin Episode: "Losing Your... Religion"
1993–94 Saved by the Bell: The College Years Zack Morris Lead role (19 episodes)
1994 For the Love of Nancy Tommy Walsh Movie
Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas Zack Morris Movie
Saved by the Bell: The New Class Episode: "Goodbye Bayside"
1996 Brothers of the Frontier Hiram Holcomb Movie
She Cried No Scott Baker Movie; also known as Freshman Fall
1997 Dying to Belong Steven Tyler Movie
Born Into Exile Chris Movie
1998–99 Hyperion Bay Dennis Sweeny Main role (17 episodes)
2000 D.C. Pete Komisky Main role (7 episodes)
2001 The Princess and the Marine Jason Johnson Movie
Beer Money Tim Maroon Movie
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Wesley Jansen / Peter Ivanhoe Episode: "Sacrifice"
2001–05 NYPD Blue Det. John Clark Jr. Main role (87 episodes)
2002 Alikes Chris Movie
Atomic Twister Deputy Jake Hannah Movie
Hitched Michael Unsold pilot
2005 Over There John Moffet 2 episodes
2005–06 Commander in Chief Richard 'Dickie' McDonald Recurring role (10 episodes)
2006 The House Next Door Kim Movie
2007 Law Dogs Evan Marlowe Unsold pilot
John from Cincinnati Jake Ferris 3 episodes
2008 Robot Chicken Zack Morris / Improv Employee (voice) Episode: "Boo Cocky"
2008–09 Raising the Bar Jerry Kellerman Main role (25 episodes)
2010 Rizzoli & Isles Garrett Fairfield Episode: "Money For Nothing"
Weeds Jack Episode: "Gentle Puppies"
2011–14 Franklin & Bash Peter Bash Lead role (40 episodes), also directed episode: "Honor Thy Mother"
2011 12 Dates of Christmas Miles Dufine Movie
2012 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Himself Episode: "A Reunion"
2013 Men at Work Tim Episode: "Weekend at PJ's" (uncredited)[42]
Happy Endings Chase Episodes: "The Ex Factor", "Un-sabotagable"
2014 Flipping Out Himself Episode: "Due Date"
2014–15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jared Briscoe / Paul Winthrop Recurring roles (4 episodes)
2015 Truth Be Told Mitch Main role (10 episodes)
2016 Pitch Mike Lawson Main role (10 episodes)
Dinner at Tiffani's Himself Episode: "Christmas at Tiffani's"
Celebrity Name Game Himself
Family Guy Zack Morris (voice) Episode: "Chris Has Got a Date, Date, Date, Date, Date"
2018 Nobodies Mark-Paul Gosselaar Recurring role (12 episodes)
2019 The Passage Brad Wolgast Main role (10 episodes)
2019–21 Mixed-ish Paul Johnson Main role (23 episodes)
2020–21 Saved by the Bell Zack Morris Recurring role, also producer (10 episodes)
2022 Barry Himself Episode: "ben mendelsohn"
2023 Will Trent Paul Campano 4 episodes
2023–present Found Hugh "Sir" Evans Main cast

Audio

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 The Coldest Case Ari 5 episodes [43] [44]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Young Artist Award

References

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  1. ^ "NLS Other Writings: Say How". Library of Congress. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  2. ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (March 1, 2024). "Famous birthdays list for today, March 1, 2024 includes celebrities Justin Bieber, Lupita Nyong'o". cleveland. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Scott-Gregory, Sophronia; Rizzo, Monica (October 12, 1998). "To Bell and Back". People. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Lee, Luaine (June 3, 2011). "Gosselaar, now all grown up, back on TV". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Mark-Paul Gosselaar: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  6. ^ Parenteel van Nathan Godslaars (Gosselaar family genealogy); Gosselaar's paternal grandfather, Aron (Arie) Gosselaar, was a Dutch Jew, and Gosselaar's paternal grandmother, Ida Ferdinanda "Itty" Kosel, was German.
  7. ^ "Hertog Gosselaar". Yad Vashem Central Database of Shoah Victims' Names. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  8. ^ "Hester Gosselaar". Yad Vashem Central Database of Shoah Victims' Names. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Staff, Distractify (September 24, 2019). "A Look at Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Parents Before He Takes on the Role of Dad in 'Mixed-ish'". Distractify. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Gosselaar, Mark-Paul (October 15, 2008). "Catching up with...Mark-Paul Gosselaar". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  11. ^ Rohit, Parimal M. (March 3, 2011). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Discusses Franklin and Bash". Santa Monica Mirror. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Mark-Paul Gosselaar...From Outrageous Con Man To Reluctant Icon!". Mark-Paul Gosselaar.net. 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "A Look at Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Parents Before He Takes on the Role of Dad in 'Mixed-ish'". Distractify. September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  14. ^ Mark-Paul Gosselaar on His Time as Zack Morris, September 30, 2015, retrieved October 24, 2022
  15. ^ Kaufman, Joanne; Tomashoff, Craig (April 16, 1990). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Teen Star of NBC's Saved by the Bell Learns That Fame Takes a Toll". People. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  16. ^ Barbuti, Angela (January 7, 2022). "What You Never Knew About Mark-Paul Gosselaar". TheList.com. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "'Celebrity True or False' with Mark-Paul Gosselaar | The Rich Eisen Show". YouTube. February 21, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Messer, Lesley (August 4, 2014). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar: I Dyed My Hair Blonde Constantly for 'Saved By the Bell'". ABC News. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Godwin, Jennifer (November 30, 2009). "TNT Cancels Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Raising the Bar". E! News.
  20. ^ Finn, Natalie (June 8, 2009). "Zack Attacks Late Night With Jimmy Fallon". E! News. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  21. ^ McSpadden, Kevin. "Watch a Glorious Saved by the Bell Reunion Courtesy of Jimmy Fallon". Time. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  22. ^ Schlossberg, Mallory (February 5, 2015). "Jimmy Fallon assembled the cast of 'Saved by The Bell' for an epic reunion". Business Insider. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  23. ^ Day, Patrick Kevin (February 5, 2015). "Jimmy Fallon reunites most of the 'Saved by the Bell' cast". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Understudy, Starring White, Kirk and Gosselaar, Extends". Broadway Buzz. November 12, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  25. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2014). "Franklin & Bash' Cancelled By TNT After Four Season". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014.
  26. ^ McLennan, Cindy (May 2, 2017). "Pitch Cancelled By Fox After One Season (No Season Two)". TVSeriesFinale. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  27. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 19, 2019). "'Mixed-ish' at ABC Adds Mark-Paul Gosselaar in Recasting". Variety.
  28. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (January 10, 2020). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Returning as Zack Morris in Peacock's Saved by the Bell Revival". Comingsoon.net. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  29. ^ Barbuti, Angela (December 29, 2021). "What You Never Knew About Tiffani Thiessen". TheList.com. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  30. ^ Ingrassia, Lisa (August 9, 2009). "Saved by the Bell". People. 76 (6). Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  31. ^ "Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Wife Have a Girl". People. May 7, 2006. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  32. ^ Shira, Dahvi (June 3, 2010). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Wife Split". People. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  33. ^ Oh, Eunice (June 25, 2010). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Files for Divorce". People. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  34. ^ a b Leonard, Elizabeth; Rizzo, Monica (August 10, 2011). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Is Engaged". People. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  35. ^ Messer, Lesley (July 28, 2012). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Is Married!". People. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  36. ^ Leon, Anya (September 30, 2013). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Welcomes Son". People. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  37. ^ Leon, Anya; Nahas, Aili (February 18, 2015). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar Welcomes Daughter Lachlyn Hope". People. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  38. ^ Barbuti, Angela (January 7, 2022). "What You Never Knew About Mark-Paul Gosselaar". TheList.com. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  39. ^ "Encino Velodrome: 2005 Far West Championships". September 4, 2005. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  40. ^ Jones, Phil. "Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar Talks About His Love For Jiu-Jitsu: 'It's Chess On The Mat'". Jits Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  41. ^ David, Mark (February 9, 2022). "'Saved by the Bell's' Mark-Paul Gosselaar Sheds Sherman Oaks Home". DIRT. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  42. ^ "'Franklin & Bash' Reunion: Mark-Paul Gosselaar Joins Breckin Meyer's 'Men at Work' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  43. ^ Weiss, Josh. "Aaron Paul On His Immersive Audible Project 'The Coldest Case' And Whether He'd Return To 'Breaking Bad'". Forbes. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  44. ^ "The Coldest Case with Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad" | Award-Winning Crime Thriller by Aaron Tracy". Parallax. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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