Saved by the Bell was a fun and wholesome teen sitcom that centered on a colorful group of adolescents at the fictional L.A. school, Bayside High. The perpetually scheming, blue-eyed charmer Zack Morris was constantly pining for popular cheerleader Kelly Kapowski, as he and his pals Slater, Lisa, Screech, and Jessie found themselves in hilarious and entertaining misadventures throughout the course of the series.

The nostalgic show ran from 1989 to 1993 for four seasons, and spawned three spin-offs and two made-for-TV-films, including a 2020 revival on Peacock. The heartwarming sitcom touted a dynamic ensemble cast led by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, and Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, and remains an enduring and popular ‘90s television staple. Here is where the cast of Saved by the Bell is today.

7 Mark-Paul Gosselaar — Zack Morris

Bayside High School's resident trouble-maker and ultimate schemer Zack Morris was charmingly portrayed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar for all 86 episodes of the series, quickly becoming the sitcom's breakout star. Famous for his epic ongoing romance with Kelly Kapowski, the character was reportedly the hardest part to cast, as TV producer Peter Engel said Zack would "be that incorrigible kid who could lie to your face, letting you know very well that he's lying, and make you love him for it all the same."

After a fast read-through, then 14-year-old Gosselaar was swiftly chosen due to his handsome looks and overwhelming charisma on screen.

Continued Success on Television

After the world said goodbye to Zack and the gang in 1994, Gosselaar went on to remain a constant presence on the small screen with the actor notably portraying Detective John Clark Jr. on NYPD Blue from 2001 to 2005. He would subsequently land prominent roles in Raising the Bar, Franklin & Bash, The Passage, and Mixed-ish, with Gosselaar also returning for the 2020 Peacock revival of Saved by the Bell.

His most recent film credit was the psychological thriller The Portrait, and he currently stars as the dangerous criminal Sir in the crime drama series Found.

6 Tiffani Thiessen — Kelly Kapowski

The beautiful and popular "It" girl Kelly Kapowski was not only Bayside's head cheerleader, but she was also a devoted student and captain of the swim, softball, and volleyball teams. Known for her ongoing will-they/won't-they love story with the wily Zack Morris, Kelly was the envy of girls everywhere and left guys pining for her, but she truly only had eyes for the blue-eyed smooth talker.

Tiffani Amber Thiessen became a bonafide teen idol with her winning performance as the all-American Kelly, and her massive popularity on the show helped lead to countless television and film projects.

Related: Saved by the Bell: The Best Episodes, Ranked

Thiessen's Teen Drama Takeover

The talented actress landed the role of the emotionally-troubled Valerie Malone in the juggernaut '90s sensation Beverly Hills, 90210, appearing as the wayward teen from seasons 5 to 9 after Shannen Doherty's departure from the series. Thiessen starred in a slew of dramatic TV movies like The Stranger Beside Me, Sweet Dreams, and Buried Secrets, and in films including Woody Allen's The Ladies Man and Hollywood Ending.

She memorably portrayed event planner Elizabeth Burke in White Collar, and starred in Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Alexa & Katie, and in the Saved by the Bell revival.

5 Mario Lopez — A.C. Slater

Army brat and likable jock Albert Cliffort "A.C." Slater started the sitcom out as a main romantic rival for Zack Morris after he attempted to win the affections of Kelly Kapowski, but the pair eventually bonded and they swiftly became good friends. A.C. excelled at almost every sport (especially wrestling and football) and he had an ongoing relationship with passionate feminist Jessie Spano throughout their high school years.

Mario Lopez had previously appeared in the children's show Kid's Incorporated and after his impressive audition for Saved by the Bell, the character was re-written and changed from Italian to Latino descent.

A Major Media Personality

While Lopez would pursue further acting roles in television shows like Pacific Blue, Nip/Tuck, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia as well as in TV films including Holiday in Handcuffs and Husband for Hire, he truly excelled in Hollywood by just being himself.

The entertainer participated on Dancing with the Stars, and has found major success as a TV host on shows including America's Best Dance Crew, Extra, and The X-Factor, with Lopez currently serving as a host on Access Hollywood.

4 Dustin Diamond — Samuel "Screech" Powers

The lovable and goofy geek Samuel "Screech" Powers was an academic wonder who had trouble with basic social skills but nonetheless had a heart of gold. Gosselaar had pushed for Dustin Diamond to be cast in the role of Zack's nerdy sidekick after auditioning alongside him and believing the actor perfectly embodied Screech in real-life, though Diamond was considerably younger than his fellow cast members.

The 3 year age gap between the actor and his co-stars led to him feeling like an outcast during filming, and he allegedly did not get along well with the Bayside gang behind the screen.

Diamond's Troubled Hollywood Career

Diamond portrayed Screech for nearly 13 years, playing the character from 1988 to 2000 in the shows Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell, and the sitcom's two spin-offs The College Years and The New Class. He became synonymous with the character, and had trouble breaking free from the persona, though he did appear in films like Jane White Is Sick & Twisted, Captured Hearts, and Hamlet A.D.D.

Diamond tried his hand at a career in professional wrestling and controversially wrote a tell-all memoir that was later proven to be highly-fabricated, with the actor not being asked to participate in reunions for the show. He passed away on February 1, 2021 at the young age of 44, following a battle with small cell carcinoma.

3 Elizabeth Berkley — Jessie Spano

After initially being considered for the role of Kelly Kapowski, seasoned actress Elizabeth Berkley was cast as the highly intelligent, devoted feminist Jessie Spano after casting directors didn't want to lose the experienced star, ultimately creating the character specifically for Berkley. She had previously appeared in shows like Gimme a Break!, Silver Spoons, and Day by Day, and starred as Jessie for 75 episodes of the fan-favorite sitcom and its two television films.

Related: Saved by the Bell: Every Major Character, Ranked

A Controversial Cinematic Venture

After saying goodbye to her character Jessie in 1994, Berkley nabbed the lead role of Nomi Malone in Paul Verhoeven's notorious box office bomb Showgirls. The NC-17 film was critically-panned and had a negative effect on Berkley's career at the time, resulting in the actress being dropped by her talent agency.

Though the erotic thriller has since gone on to become a cult classic and found new life in the home video market, it took a while for her career to recover. Berkley eventually bounced back and landed parts in films like The First Wives Club, Any Given Sunday, and Student Seduction, and in shows including CSI: Miami, The L Word, New Girl, and 2020's Saved by the Bell.

2 Lark Voorhies — Lisa Turtle

Bayside High School's flirty and bold fashionista Lisa Turtle is constantly being pursued by the lovesick Screech and has also been best friends with Zack since elementary school, with the character aspiring to be a celebrated fashion designer. Lark Voorhies first originated the role in Disney Channel's Good Morning, Miss Bliss, and the show was later retooled to become Saved by the Bell. She had previously appeared in the sitcoms Small Wonders and The Robert Guillaume Show before starring as Lisa for 86 episodes.

Sticking with the Small Screen

For her charismatic portrayal of Lisa Turtle, Voorhies won two Young Artist Awards and followed-up the vibrant role with shows like Martin, Days of Our Lives, In the House, and The Parkers. The actress notably originated the character of Jasmine Malone in The Bold and the Beautiful, and worked on the films Longshot and How High, before taking a step back from Hollywood to self-publish three books.

Voorhies returned to television in 2020 when she joined her former cast members for the Saved by the Bell revival, appearing in 3 episodes.

1 Dennis Haskins — Mr. Belding

Bayside High School's devoted principal and authority figure Mr. Belding was Zack Morris' frequent foe and sometimes friend, who was known for his love of his students and his catch phrase "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?" in the sitcom. Dennis Haskins reprised the role after appearing as the character in the pilot for Good Morning, Miss Bliss, and playing the wholesome Mr. Belding in the subsequent television movies and spin-offs.

Haskins had worked on the shows The Dukes of Hazzard and Archie Bunker's Place before taking on the part of the disciplinary principal.

Numerous Television Appearances

Haskins auditioned a whopping seven times for the role of Mr. Belding, and he continued playing the character until 2000 before later reuniting with his cast members in a 2015 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The actor has remained quite busy on the small screen and has had supporting parts on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Robot Chicken, New Girl, and Hot in Cleveland, with the 2019 drama Clemency being one of his most recent cinematic credits.

Saved by the Bell is available to buy on Apple TV