Saved By The Bell cast now – Co-star romances, tragic death and racy film

Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berkley turns 53 years old tomorrow (Sunday).

Fans who were there at the start of her career will remember her appearance in the popular teen comedy Saved By The Bell. The same fans will also remember the jaw dropping moment she made her big screen debut in the 1995 Paul Verhoeven film Showgirls.

She was one of the many young cast members to find fame and success in the popular TV series, which has since been rebooted with new and returning stars. Sadly the second run out of the series didn’t quite win the hearts of millions, as Peacock cancelled the series after two seasons.

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There’s lots of quality news coming out of the US.

But for the purposes of this article the Daily Star is just going to go full nostalgia and focus on the original Saved By The Bell series to find out where the cast are now.

Elizabeth Berkley – Jessie Spano

Elizabeth Berkley portrayed straight-A student Jessie Spano in Saved By The Bell. Reflecting on her role, Elizabeth told People Magazine: “The ‘I’m so excited!’ episode was so extreme,” adding that one of the most memorable aspects of playing Jessie was “the hair! “I practically went through a can of hair spray a show,” she said.

After Saved By the Bell ended, one of Elizabeth’s subsequent roles was in the aforementioned risque 1995 film Showgirls, where she bared all for the camera.

Since then, she has remained a constant presence on our screens, landing starring roles in several TV shows including NYPD Blue alongside Saved By The Bell co-star Mark Paul Gosselaar, The L Word and New Girl.

She has also participated in the 2013 series of Dancing With the Stars and most recently returned to reprise her role as Jessie Spano in the 2021 Saved By the Bell reboot, where she played the Bayside High student councillor.

Outside of the acting world, Elizabeth is married to actor Greg Lauren and the couple have one child together.

Mario Lopez – A.C Slater

Mario Lopez, who played heartthrob A.C Slater in Saved By The Bell, was a fan favourite with his impressive dance moves.

Post-Saved By The Bell, Mario found immense success on TV shows like Pacific Blue, The Bold and The Beautiful, and Nip/Tuck.

He became a familiar face on American television, hosting The X Factor alongside Khloe Kardashian in 2012 and presenting news for Entertainment Tonight.

With an estimated net worth of $25million (£18.46million), it’s clear that Mario has done well for himself.

In the 2021 reboot of Saved By The Bell, he returned to his athletic roots as Bayside High’s PE teacher.

Off-screen, Mario has been married to dancer Courtney Mazza since 2012 and they have three children together.

Lark Voorhies – Lisa Turtle

Lark Voorhies portrayed Lisa Turtle, the popular and stylish student at Bayside High.

She was the object of fellow student Screech’s affection throughout their school years. The actress has gone onto enjoy a stellar career with stints on shows like the iconic American soap Days of Our Lives.

The star’s personal life has seen her walk down the aisle three times first with Miguel Coleman from 1996 to 2004, then tying the knot with Andy Prince from 2007 until 2013, and a brief marriage to Jimmy Green from 2015 to 2016

In a heartfelt chat on the Dr.Oz show back in December 2020, Lark opened up about her battle with Schizoaffective Thought Disorder and her experience filming the Saved By The Bell reboot. She said: “I put it in a bag and leave it in my room and I come out and do the lines and we do our thing,” adding that acting is what she is was always “meant to do”.

She also gushed about reuniting with her old castmates, adding: “I received a call from Elizabeth Berkley, who plays Jessie. She sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. And we had a great time shooting it.”

Mark Paul Gosselaar – Zack Morris

Switching gears to Mark Paul Gosselaar, the actor who brought the charming Zack Morris to life in both Saved By The Bell and its sequel, Saved By The Bell: College Years.

Chatting to People Magazine in 2009, Mark Paul revealed he romanced each of his leading ladies Lark Voorhies, Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Thiesen during the show’s heyday, yet they’ve managed to remain tight-knit pals.

From there he went on to have regular roles in TV series such as D.C, NYPD Blue, CSI and Franklin and Bash. He also reprised his role as Zack in the 2021 Saved By The Bell reboot, where his character was the Governor of California.

Off-screen, Mark is a father of four and has been married twice – first to model Lisa Ann Russell from 1996-2011, and then to advertising executive Catriona McGinn from 2012 onwards.

Tiffani Thiessen – Kelly Kapowski

Tiffani Thiessen, who portrayed Kelly Kapowski, shared with People Magazine about the glamorous lifestyle and travel opportunities that came with being part of the Saved By The Bell cast. She said: “Mark-Paul and I got to go to Paris [for a press tour].

“We ate crepes, and my first sip of alcohol was with him. It felt at times like we were Barbie and Ken.”

Post-Saved By The Bell, Tiffani’s career trajectory continued to rise. After her character married Zack Morris in Saved By The Bell: The Wedding, she landed roles in popular shows like Beverley Hills 90210.

Following stints on TV programmes including Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place, Tiffani made a career switch and now hosts her own cooking show, Dinner at Tiffanis. Her guests have included her former Saved By The Bell co-stars Mark Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley.

However, Tiffani returned to acting, featuring in the Netflix series Alexa and Katie, and reprising her role as the First Lady to California Governor Zack Morris in the Saved By The Bell reboot.

Away from the limelight, Tiffani has been happily married to fellow actor Brady Smith since 2005, and they share two children.

Dustin Diamond – Screech

Dustin Diamond was best known for his role as Zack Morris’ loyal friend and sidekick Screech, with his unforgettable goofy antics and distinctive high-pitched voice.

After starring in Saved By The Bell and its sequel, Saved By The Bell: The College Years, Dustin landed several TV roles in shows like Robot Chicken, and participated in Celebrity Fit Club USA and Celebrity Big Brother in 2013.

In his personal life, Dustin was married to Jennifer Misner from 2009. However, on February 1, 2021, Dustin tragically passed away at the age of 44, just three weeks after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Celebrities from the entertainment industry paid their respects to Dustin, with Saved By The Bell co-star Mario Lopez stating: “Dustin, you will be missed my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on.”

Mark Paul Gosselaar expressed his sorrow, saying he would miss “those raw, brilliant sparks that only he was able to produce.” While Tiffani Thiessen added: “Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin.”

Dennis Haskins – Mr Belding

Before gaining fame as High School Principal Mr Belding in Saved By The Bell, Dennis Haskins was already a familiar face in the celebrity world, working as a concert promoter, music manager and agent.

However, his acting career kicked off in the eighties and after a stint on Saved By The Bell, he landed roles in popular TV shows like The West Wing, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and How I Met Your Mother.

Most recently he is listed as starring in a number of TV films, including one called 18.

In his personal life, Dennis was married to Dianne Haskins and the couple had one child together.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk