Mario Lopez's 3 Kids: All About Gia, Dominic and Santino

Mario Lopez wants to pass on the lessons he learned from his parents to his three children: Gia, Dominic and Santino.

The Saved by the Bell the star met actress Courtney Lopez when they worked together on a Broadway musical Refrain in 2008. They got married in Punta Mita, Mexico in 2012, surrounded by family and friends. Two years earlier, they had their first child, daughter Gia, who served as flower girl at their wedding.

Dominic was born just a year later. “When we get to number three, we will be outnumbered – that’s when it will become very real,” Pacific Blue the alum joked that Mini magazine before Santino’s birth in 2019.

He also shared the sweet reason he loves his kids and can’t wait to have more: “You don’t realize how much love you have for these new little people. It changes your whole perspective and all your priorities.”

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Mario credits his immigrant parents with the “strong work ethic mentality” he grew up with and which he passes on to his daughter and sons.

“I want to teach them to never forget where they came from and to always try to be better,” he told Yahoo Life in 2022.

The Access to Hollywood The host attributed his success as a father to his “understanding and supportive wife”, who acts as “the quarterback of the team”, when he spoke to Mini magazine.

Courtney echoed his praise in the same interview, saying, “Mario works so hard for our family, but no matter what day he has, he comes home and is so present. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect father for my children.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Mario Lopez’s children: Gia, Dominic and Santino.

Gia Francesca Lopez, 13

Mario Lopez’s daughter Gia Lopez. Mario Lopez Instagram

Mario and Courtney welcomed Gia on September 11, 2010, two years after they began their relationship.

The new dad said Extra that he was “overjoyed” when she came into the world. “The whole thing is so surreal, and it happened so fast,” Mario said. “I just want to go and stare at her and check her out and just look at her. She’s chubby and looks so cute.”

Gia is “a total daddy’s girl,” says the host, who often praises her.

“My daughter, she’s very smart,” he told PEOPLE in 2017. “I know a lot of parents say that about their kids, but she’s a very quick kid and very funny and very sensitive and emotional and caring.”

Still, that doesn’t stop Gia from playing with her dad. “WWE is at my house every night, [the kids] she gets mad if I don’t wrestle them,” Mario said before revealing that Gia was the wrestler to watch in his household.

“She’s as physical, if not more physical than my son. That’s her favorite thing, to be honest,” he said. “I can’t seem to get enough. She’s like a little Ronda Rousey.”

Mario Lopez and his daughter Gia Lopez attend the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 24, 2022 in New York City. Gotham/GC images

Gia and her father also worked together on his syndicated radio show, We continue with Mario Lopezand several of his other projects. When she was 7, Gia booked her first acting gig on a Disney Channel animated series Elena of Avalor, and since then she has appeared in some of her dads Access to Hollywood coverage.

As she grew up, Mario shared his pride for Gia on Instagram. In 2020, the actor and television personality shared a birthday bash in which his daughter wore a Bayside Tigers hoodie as a nod to his breakout role on Saved by the Bell.

“Happy birthday besos to my little Mia, Gigi! She’s growing up too fast, but I’m so proud of you and your kind heart,” Mario wrote in the tribute.

The Daytime Emmy winner is also all about making Gia feel special. “I think the way you treat your daughter is going to set a certain standard for how she should be treated,” Mario told PEOPLE in 2017.

“And if you raise her right, she won’t put up with anything less than that, and that’s it [what] I’m trying to do that with my daughter,” he added.

Dominic Luciano Lopez, 11

Mario Lopez’s son Dominic Lopez poses at a wrestling event. Mario Lopez Instagram

Mario and Courtney celebrated the arrival of Dominic on September 9, 2013. His name is a tribute to Mario’s maternal great-grandfather, Dominic, but he has many other nicknames.

“I just think Dominic sounds great,” Mario said Today in 2022 “We call him Nico for short. He has a bunch of nicknames, Dom, Nico Suave. My wife and I call our son Wreck-It Ralph because he wrecks everything. He’s got a lot of fire in him.”

Despite initial concerns about their sibling relationship, Courtney told PEOPLE in 2014 that Gia turned out to be “the best big sister.” The mum-of-three added: “She is so caring and takes her big sister role very seriously.”

Spending time with his son also keeps Mario young: when Dominic was 8, father and son participated in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament together.

“When your son asks you to compete in the same tournament as him, do it. You’re never too old to challenge yourself and set goals,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thanks to all the friends who helped us get ready!”

Mario Lopez and his son Dominic Lopez. Mario Lopez Instagram

Dominik continued with his sports hobby. In April 2024, Mario shared on Instagram that his older son was first in a Jiu-Jitsu competition.

Apart from testing their physical strength, it is important for the actor and host to keep their children grounded and grounded.

“The most important thing I have to teach my kids is that manners are very important,” he told PEOPLE in 2017. “To be polite and respectable, to respect other people and treat them the way you would like to be treated and work the real thing.”

Dominic is also following in his father’s Hollywood footsteps. The two star alongside Courtney in the holiday film My Christmas wish for adultspart of the Great American Christmas 2024 schedule, according to Deadline. Dominic will play the younger version of Mario’s character.

“Lil man stealin the movie…” the proud papa wrote on Instagram in March 2024.

Santino Rafael Lopez, 5

Mario Lopez’s son, Santino Lopez. Mario Lopez Instagram

Mario and Courtney welcomed Santino on July 7, 2019. Before his birth, the couple openly said they weren’t sure if they would be able to have a third child and called him a “miracle.”

“If it didn’t happen, it wasn’t meant to be. It’s not part of God’s plan. We have one of each,” Access to Hollywood host told PEOPLE 2019. “But it got in! It snuck in, towards the end, so [it was] a bit of a Christmas miracle.”

After Mario and Courtney learned the happy news, Gia and Dominic went along with the idea of ​​having another sibling.

“At first they were like, ‘Wait, what?’ They couldn’t understand,” he recalled. “My daughter became very dramatic. She said, ‘If I have another brother, I’m telling you right now, I’m moving to Texas!’ ”

Soon, however, the children came to help welcome Santino and take care of their mother-to-be. “They kiss her belly all the time. They’re very excited. It’s really nice to see how the kids react,” said Mario.

Mario Lopez and his son Santino Lopez. Mario Lopez Instagram

The youngest child of this couple was named after the character of James Caan from Godfatherrevealed the presenter in a sweet tribute to the actor.

“I named my son after Santino Corleone in The Godfather, and the man who infamously played him passed away today on my son’s birthday,” he wrote on an Instagram photo of Santino next to Caan.

When Santino was still a baby, Mario revealed that he was “the most laid-back baby”, before joking that this meant “he’ll probably save it all for later, so he’ll explode with all his energy”.

As he got older, Santino took over for his brother, competing in his own Jiu-Jitsu competitions.

In March 2024, Mario shared on Instagram that both of his sons took home gold at a recent tournament. The proud papa posted footage of both the kids’ matches showing Santino jumping with excitement when he won.

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Source: HIS Education