“I’m very proud of him,” the ‘Saved by the Bell’ alum told PEOPLE

NEED TO KNOW

• Mario Lopez praised his son, Dominic Lopez, following in his acting footsteps in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE
• “I was a former kid actor myself, and now getting to see my son sort of take this journey, it makes for a very special moment,” said Mario, who got his first acting credit when he was 10
• In addition to 12-year-old Dominic, Mario and his wife, Courtney Lopez, share two more children: Gia, 15, and Santino, 7

Mario Lopez can relate to his pre-teen son’s burgeoning acting career. 

Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively at Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood event on Aug. 5, the actor, 52, opened up about his 12-year-old son, Dominic Lopez, following in his famous footsteps in the entertainment industry.

”It’s a pretty special moment being that I was a former kid actor myself, and now getting to see my son sort of take this journey,” said Mario, who recently filmed a holiday movie — Christmas at the Starlight — with his son.

”It makes for a very special moment. We’re excited to be here,” the proud father continued.

He and Dominic tandem-hosted the event at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles.

Like his son, Mario started acting young, landing his first credit at age 10 in 1984 as Tomás in the comedy series a.k.a. Pablo.

He then filled his resumé as a performer on Kids Incorporated and had a guest role on The Golden Girls, and Mario landed his film debut in Colors, before he secured his breakout role as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell in 1989.

Of the father-son’s upcoming holiday film, which also stars Tony Danza, Mario told PEOPLE, “I saw a rough cut the other day — it turned out great.”

“Tony Danza plays a grandfather. I’m the father. [Dominic is] a grandson, and we’re tap dancing, a little singing,” he further explained of the project.

“It’s a lot of heart to it, family-oriented, so [I’m] happy with the way it came out,” Mario added, then praising his son’s performance in the film: “Dominic did a really, really good job. I’m very proud of him.”

Christmas at the Starlight will be an even bigger family affair, with Mario’s wife (and Dominic’s mom), Courtney Lopez, performing a song in the film.

In addition to Dominic, Mario and Courtney, 43, share two other children: daughter Gia, 15, and son Santino, 7.

Christmas at the Starlight marks Dominic’s second consecutive year starring in a holiday movie. He previously filmed scenes for the 2025 TV film Chasing Christmas. 

Last year, Dominic also worked on scenes for the Kathy Bates-fronted drama Matlock, as well as Chris Dowling’s Bad Counselors, a 2026 comedy set at a camp for middle schoolers.

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In December, Mario shared an Instagram photo of Dominic with Bates, 78.

“Just Nico casually solving crimes with screen legend Kathy Bates on Matlock,” the actor captioned the behind-the-scenes photo.

Christmas at The Starlight will premiere during the holiday season as part of Great American Christmas across Great American Family, Great American Pure Flix and GFAM+.

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