Mark-Paul Gosselaar, the man who brought the legendary Zack Morris to life, is 51 years old in 2025. Born March 1, 1974, the former teen heartthrob now has a net worth of $8 million, has been happily married to advertising executive Catriona McGinn since 2012, stands 6 feet (1.83 m) tall, weighs around 174 lbs (79 kg), and still earns roughly $500,000 per year between acting, producing, and residuals. From dating three Saved by the Bell co-stars in the ’90s to building a beautiful blended family today, here’s the full, updated story of the real Zack Morris.
From Child Model to Bayside High King: Early Life & Breakthrough
Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar was born in Panorama City, California, to a Dutch father and a Dutch-Indonesian mother, making him proudly half-Asian. At just five years old he was already modeling for Oreo cookies and Smurfs toys. By age twelve he was guest-starring on Highway to Heaven and Charles in Charge.
The big break came in 1988 when Disney cast the blond 14-year-old as the scheming preppy in Good Morning, Miss Bliss. When NBC re-tooled the show into Saved by the Bell in 1989, Zack Morris exploded into pop culture with his giant cell phone and fourth-wall breaks. The series averaged over 10 million viewers weekly and turned Gosselaar into a global teen idol practically overnight.
Career Evolution: Escaping the Teen Idol Curse
Many ’90s stars got stuck in the “where are they now” trap, but Gosselaar refused. After Saved by the Bell wrapped in 1993 he dyed his hair brown, gained muscle, and fought for adult roles. His gamble paid off in 2001 when he joined NYPD Blue for four seasons as Detective John Clark Jr.—a complete 180 from Zack’s charm that earned him serious critical praise.
Since then he’s starred in Raising the Bar, Franklin & Bash, Pitch, The Passage, and most recently played the chilling villain Hugh “Sir” Evans on NBC’s Found (2023–2025). In 2025 he wrapped that series and immediately jumped into producing his first feature film—a cycling drama based on his own passion for track racing.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar Net Worth & Salary Breakdown 2025
His current net worth sits at $8 million. Early Saved by the Bell pay started at $1,500 per episode and climbed to $15,000 by the final season. NYPD Blue bumped him to $100,000 per episode. Modern network shows pay him around $75,000–$100,000 per episode plus healthy backend from streaming and syndication.
| Income Source | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| Saved by the Bell original run (1989–1993) | $1.5 million |
| NYPD Blue (2001–2005) | $8.7 million |
| Franklin & Bash + other cable shows | $4+ million |
| Found (2023–2025) | $2 million |
| Residuals & syndication (ongoing) | $200K–$300K per year |
| Real estate flips & investments | $2.8 million profit |
| Total Net Worth 2025 | $8 million |
Height, Weight & Fitness at Age 51
Gosselaar is officially 6 feet (183 cm) tall and maintains a lean 174 lbs (79 kg). He’s a track-cycling beast (2005 Far West Champion) and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt. Friends say he still rides 150–200 miles a week and trains BJJ four nights a week. “Cycling and Jiu-Jitsu saved me after my divorce,” he told Men’s Health in 2023.
Love Life: Dating Co-Stars, Two Marriages & Blended Family
In true ’90s sitcom fashion, teenage Gosselaar dated Lark Voorhies, Tiffani Thiessen, and Elizabeth Berkley at different points during the original show. “We were hormonal kids on the same set 14 hours a day,” he laughed on Anna Faris’ podcast.
He married model/actress Lisa Ann Russell in 1996. They had two children—Michael (born 2004) and Ava (2006)—before divorcing amicably in 2011. A year later he married advertising executive Catriona McGinn in a sunset ceremony in Santa Ynez, California. Together they have Dekker (born 2013) and Lachlyn (born 2015).
| Relationship Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| Dated Lark Voorhies | 1989–1991 |
| Dated Tiffani Thiessen | 1989 & on/off |
| Dated Elizabeth Berkley | 1991–1992 |
| Married Lisa Ann Russell | 1996–2011 |
| Married Catriona McGinn | July 28, 2012 – present |
| Children | 4 (Michael, Ava, Dekker, Lachlyn) |
Quick Biography Table – Mark-Paul Gosselaar 2025
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar |
| Age (2025) | 51 years old |
| Date of Birth | March 1, 1974 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 174 lbs (79 kg) |
| Net Worth 2025 | $8 million |
| Current Wife | Catriona McGinn (m. 2012) |
| Children | 4 |
| Most Famous Role | Zack Morris – Saved by the Bell |
| Latest Project | Found (NBC) + upcoming cycling feature |
| Hobbies | Track cycling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
Why Zack Morris Still Matters in 2025
More than three decades later, Zack Morris remains the blueprint for the charming, meta-aware teen lead (think Ferris Bueller meets modern TikTok). Gosselaar himself has evolved into the rare child star who beat the odds: no scandals, no bankruptcy, steady work, happy family, and still looks like he could pass for late 30s.
He’s now mentoring the next generation through SAG-AFTRA and quietly developing projects about mental health in young Hollywood—something he wishes existed when he was 15 and suddenly famous. As he said at PaleyFest 2024: “Zack taught kids it’s cool to be clever. I hope I’m teaching them it’s cooler to grow up kind.”
For the most detailed timeline and filmography, visit his Wikipedia page. And yes—Zack Morris is all grown up, and he turned out just fine.
