Mark-Paul Gosselaar made teenage girls swoon as gorgeous Zack Morris in hit nineties TV show Saved by the Bell. The popular NBC show about a group of school friends and their principal ran from 1989 to 1993 and had a cult following, largely down to the charms of blonde-haired charmer Zack. But appearing at the 22nd Annual Taste for the Cure event in Los Angeles this week, Mark-Paul looked nothing like his former character. Gone were the golden locks – instead Mark, 43, had dark brown hair and sported a large beard and moustache. The star was totally unrecognisable as teen pin-up Zack Morris.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar with his wife Catriona McGinn
The actor attended the party with his advertising executive wife Catriona McGinn, who looked stunning in a strapless knee-length dress. Mark-Paul wore a navy suit and tie for the smart occasion. The couple married in 2012 at the Sunstone winery in California and have two young children, a son Dekker and a girl, Lachlyn. Mark-Paul was previously married to former model Lisa Ann Russell for 14 years and they also have two children together, a son, Michael Charles and a daughter, Ava Lorenn. They separated in 2010. Since finding acting success in Saved by the Bell, Mark-Paul went on to appear in television roles shows NYPD Blue, Raising the Bar, CSI and the film Dead Man on Campus.
READ: Mark-Paul Gosselaar becomes a father of four: 'Two boys, two girls, too perfect'
Actor Mark-Paul with his family
The dad-of-four is currently starring in Fox TV’s series Pitch, and this role is the reason for Mark-Paul’s new look. In an interview with mtv.com last year, the star revealed his transformation was at the request of the show’s producer. He said: “Dan Fogelman told me to gain some weight and grow a beard. He didn’t want anyone to recognize me.” The actor explained that while he doesn’t actually like having a beard, it certainly comes with benefits because no-one recognises him now and that’s a first for him.
Mark-Paul as Zack Morris with his Saved by the Bell cast mates