Mark-Paul Gosselaar is basically the face of 90s nostalgia. If you grew up then, he was Zack Morris—the blonde, brick-phone-wielding schemer who everyone either wanted to be or date. But honestly? The guy behind the character is way more interesting than Bayside High ever was. Specifically, his life with his wife, Catriona McGinn.
They’ve been married since 2012, which is roughly a century in Hollywood years.
People always expect a former teen idol to marry another star. Or maybe a supermodel. But Mark-Paul went a different route. Catriona was an advertising executive when they met. She wasn't some superfan who had his posters on her wall as a kid. In fact, she reportedly didn't even watch Saved by the Bell. Talk about a reality check for a guy who was once the most famous teenager in America.
The Truth About How Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Wife Catriona Met
It wasn't some flashy red carpet meet-cute. Mark-Paul was coming off a pretty heavy chapter. He had spent 14 years married to his first wife, Lisa Ann Russell, and that divorce was finalized in May 2011. Most people would have taken a long break.
He didn't.
He met Catriona through a mutual friend. She was working at Nielsen BDSRadio at the time, navigating the high-stakes world of product development and marketing. She was a professional. She was smart. And she supposedly had no idea she was dating the guy who "invented" the time-out.
By August 2011, they were engaged.
✨ Don't miss: Mia Khalifa New Sex Research: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With Her 2014 Career
He proposed with a massive five-carat, cushion-cut diamond. He actually worked with jeweler Neil Lane to custom-design it. He told reporters at the time that he was just "so excited" to have found her. They didn't wait long to tie the knot, either. On July 28, 2012, they had this gorgeous, rustic-chic wedding at the Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California.
A Scottish-Style Wedding
Catriona has serious Scottish roots. Much of her family is from the UK. Because of that, the wedding wasn't just another Hollywood party. There were bagpipers. Guests actually wore kilts. It was a whole vibe.
They even did a "sand ceremony" involving Mark-Paul’s two kids from his previous marriage, Michael and Ava. It was about blending the families, not just a romantic ceremony for two. It’s those kinds of details that make you realize their relationship was built on something a bit more substantial than just "celebrity dating."
Life at Home: Four Kids and a Lot of Chaos
By 2026, the Gosselaar household is a busy one. Mark-Paul and Catriona have two children together: Dekker Edward, born in 2013, and Lachlyn Hope, born in 2015. Add in his older kids, Michael and Ava, and you've got a full house.
Mark-Paul has been really open about the reality of being a father of four. He’s said in interviews that his kids "could care less" about what he does for a living. To them, he's just the guy who makes dinner and helps with homework.
- Dekker Edward: Now about 12 years old.
- Lachlyn Hope: Now 10.
- Michael Charles: In his early 20s.
- Ava Lorenn: Around 19.
They’re a tight-knit unit. They play golf together. They do Sunday dinners. Honestly, it sounds suspiciously normal. Mark-Paul even mentioned that Catriona is the one who goes all out for the holidays—starting Christmas decorations literally the day after Thanksgiving while he just moves the boxes.
🔗 Read more: Is Randy Parton Still Alive? What Really Happened to Dolly’s Brother
The "Pitch" Therapy Sessions
Marriage isn't always easy, even when you're Zack Morris. Mark-Paul actually shared a story about how his role in the show Pitch (where he played a gritty, bearded baseball catcher) started to bleed into his real life. He was staying in character too much.
He admitted that during therapy sessions, Catriona had to tell him, "That’s not the guy I married."
It’s refreshing to hear a celeb admit to that stuff. It shows they actually do the work. They didn't just bail when things got weird; they sat down in a therapist's office and figured it out. That's probably why they're still together while so many other Hollywood couples have crashed and burned.
Why Catriona McGinn Isn't Your Typical "Star's Wife"
Catriona has kept a relatively low profile compared to other "famous" wives. She isn't chasing reality TV deals. She isn't trying to launch a lifestyle brand (well, not a massive one, anyway). She’s a career woman.
Before they got married, she was a general manager. She’s had a successful career in advertising and sales. That professional background likely helps keep their home life grounded. She understands the business of entertainment but isn't necessarily consumed by it.
They moved from Sherman Oaks a few years back and settled into a place in Los Angeles where they can just be a family. You’ll occasionally see them on a red carpet for a charity event, like the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, but they aren't "out" every night.
💡 You might also like: Patricia Neal and Gary Cooper: The Affair That Nearly Broke Hollywood
What’s Next for the Gosselaars?
Mark-Paul’s career has taken a dark, fascinating turn lately with his role in Found. He plays "Sir," a kidnapper who is now being held captive himself. It’s a far cry from the lighthearted antics of Bayside.
He’s also been getting behind the camera, directing episodes for the show. Through all these shifts—from teen idol to legal drama lead in Franklin & Bash to a dark procedural villain—Catriona has been the constant.
If you're looking for lessons from their relationship, it's pretty simple:
- Marry someone who likes you for you: Catriona didn't care about the Zack Morris fame.
- Involve the whole family: Their wedding was as much about the kids as it was about them.
- Do the work: Don't be afraid of therapy when the "work" starts coming home with you.
- Keep it private: They share enough to be relatable, but they don't sell every detail of their lives to the tabloids.
It’s a solid blueprint. In an industry known for 72-day marriages and messy public breakups, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Catriona McGinn seem to have found a way to make it actually work.
Keep an eye on Mark-Paul's upcoming projects on NBC and Peacock. If you’re a fan, the best way to support him is to watch his newer, grittier work—it's where he's really showing his range these days. Check out Found if you haven't yet; it’s a wild ride.