Mario Lopez Announces He's Going To Be a Dad

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 11th 2010 06:08AM

Mario Lopez announced that his girlfriend, Broadway dancer Courtney Mazza, is pregnant with the couple's first child.

"Courtney and I couldn't be more excited," he said in a statement on Extra Wednesday. "I've waited my whole life to be a dad -- this is a true blessing. I am looking forward to sharing this experience with my family and my family at 'Extra.'" The baby is due this fall.

"I'm really excited. I'm happy. I can't wait to be a dad," Lopez tells PEOPLE. "I grew up in a large family. I'm fired up! I don't know what we're having. I'm going to wait to see [the baby's gender] so it will be a surprise."

Lopez and Mazza met in 2008 when Lopez starred in 'A Chorus Line' on Broadway.

Lopez came to fame for his role as A.C. Slater on 'Saved by the Bell' and was a former 'Dancing With the Stars' competitor.

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Mario Lopez Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Mario Lopez (R) and Courtney Mazza (L) attend a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on February 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mario Lopez;Courtney Mazza

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Mario Lopez Snapshots

HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 07: TV personality Mario Lopez arrives at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez Snapshots

Mo'Nique, center, is interviewed by Mario Lopez, right, as Sidney Hicks looks on at the 82nd Academy Awards Sunday, March 7, 2010, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

Mario Lopez Snapshots

CENTURY CITY, CA - MARCH 05: Actor Mario Lopez attends the 47th Annual ICG Publicists Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on March 5, 2010 in Century City, California. (Photo by John M. Heller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez Snapshots

Soldiers guard suspect Mario Lopez, center, as they stand next to packages containing marijuana during a presentation to the media in Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. According to the army, they found 15, 445 kilograms of marijuana inside a truck on Monday at a check point on the Federal road 3 in the nearby town of Ensenada.(AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

Mario Lopez Snapshots

Soldiers guard suspect Mario Lopez, center, as they stand next to packages containing marijuana during a presentation to the media in Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. According to the army, they found 15, 445 kilograms of marijuana inside a truck Monday at a check point on the Federal road 3, near Ensenada.(AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

Mario Lopez Snapshots

DALLAS - FEBRUARY 13: Actor Mario Lopez looks on during the Haier Shooting Stars Competition on All-Star Saturday Night, part of 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez Snapshots

Tags: mario lopez, saved by the bell

Comments

(97)

Thursday 11 March

By Linda

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

WOULD be nicer to read that they were getting married FIRST, and THEN having a baby!

By James

Yeah, you'd think being a big star he would get married BEFORE having the baby to show today's youth to do it THE RIGHT WAY!!

By Marie

Vote down Vote up Report this

THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WHY DON'T THEY THINK ABOUT WHEN
THE CHILD GROWS UP. WONDERFUL TO HAVE A MOM AND A DAD.
I HOPE HIS MOM DOES CONVINCE HIM TO MARRY.
HE IS HIS OWN BEST ADMIRER, BUT MAYBE THIS WILL HELP HIM
GROW UP.

By BastardfromKC

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

For Pete SAKE!! If you're so damned excited and happy about being a Dad and having a family, MARRY HER BEFORE THE CHILD ARRIVES TO IT WILL NOT BE A

B A S T A R D CHILD!!!!!!!!!!

That is the legal definition of a child born out of wedlock!!!

Saturday 12 June

By julie

SOOOOOOOOOO! disappointed in him. Loved watching every move,
smile and loved his voice. I'm 60 years old, never got tired
him. Because of him, I loved watching ET. What is he going to say to his children? Son,daughter,
do whatever you want to do. Just have fun, that's all that counts.
SO SAD IN HIM-

By judie

Congrats but marry the girl.

By hummerpoo2

If he came from a large family I sssume his father married his mother. Why has he not done the same before they started a "family"? And why is the media glorifying one more couple shacking up?

By janine

Gotta agree with that-- 200%!!!!! what happened to marrying FIRST, then breeding?

By auntie

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO MARRIAGE BEFORE BABY??????

By Chris

Long gone I guess. My question is will he cheat on this one too?

By BigTinyLittle

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Not when it's a turkey baster baby. I guess she's getting paid extra for this!!

By jared

um, the 60's ended?

The 60's ended and condoms evolved - you're shoe-size is showing, jared!

By Regina

What happen to the days when people were married BEFORE having a baby. It says a lot about this nation when no one gives a second thought to the fact that a couple are announcing the pregnancy before announcing the wedding.

By thaistyx

You know, once upon a time, marriage was a prerequisite to having children.

By EDDIETHEBEACH

did he have to force this one to have sex with him

By disdannie

Mario's family lives here in my town. Trust me, his mother who is very involve in her church, will be all over him to get married before that baby is born. And Mario is a mommy's boy so he WILL be getting married.

The fact that his mother goes to Church doesn't matter; the wrong thing has already been done! Seems like the ole' boy didn't follow in mommy's footsteps.

By maricia12

Let's hope he gets married. If he thinks enough of the woman having his child, and the child, then he should do the right thing. It's an old fashion view point but I still believe in it.

By dainvestr1

This guy is such a douche. He is so full of himself. Maybe Carly Simon wrote that song for people like him. If the douche decides to get married he'll probably register for more mirrors so he can look at himself all day. Oh, did I mention that he's a douche!

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