Everyone still sees him as Zack Morris. It’s a curse, really. You spend three decades being the blonde-haired, cell-phone-wielding face of Bayside High, and people just assume your life stayed frozen in a 1992 Saturday morning time slot. But if you actually look at the man today, the reality is way more grounded. Mark-Paul Gosselaar isn’t chasing the Hollywood party circuit or trying to relive the glory days of The Max. He’s basically a suburban dad who happens to have a really famous face. And at the center of that normal, quiet life is his wife, Catriona McGinn.
It’s kind of hilarious when you think about it. Most of us grew up with Mark-Paul’s face plastered on our bedroom walls. We knew every "time out" and every scheme. But when he met Catriona back in 2011, she didn’t have a clue. Honestly. She wasn't a Saved by the Bell fangirl. She didn't have a crush on Zack Morris. She just met a guy named Mark.
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Who Is Catriona McGinn?
Catriona isn't an actress. She didn't meet him on a film set or at some glitzy industry mixer. She’s a powerhouse in the advertising world. She spent years climbing the ladder, eventually becoming a high-level advertising executive. Before she was "Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s wife," she was a general manager at Nielsen BDSRadio, overseeing product development and national sales. She’s smart, career-driven, and—as Mark-Paul has said in plenty of interviews—she's the one who keeps their world spinning.
They got engaged in August 2011. Mark-Paul was pretty traditional about the whole thing; he actually went to her father to ask for his blessing before he ever popped the question. He’s a bit of a "Type-A" personality when it comes to planning, so he spent months secretly working with celebrity jeweler Neil Lane to design a five-carat cushion-cut diamond ring.
The proposal happened at their seaside home. It wasn't a big, flashy production. Just a family dinner, a walk on the beach with his kids from his first marriage, and a sunset. Simple.
The Wedding That Embraced Scottish Roots
The couple tied the knot on July 28, 2012. They chose the Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California, which is this gorgeous, rustic spot that feels more like Tuscany than the Central Coast. But they didn't just go for a standard "California chic" vibe. Catriona has deep Scottish roots, and she wanted to honor that.
Imagine a sun-drenched winery where a bagpiper is playing "Highland Cathedral." Some of the guests actually wore kilts. It was a beautiful mix of her heritage and the sunny California lifestyle they love. They even did a "sand ceremony" involving Mark-Paul's children to symbolize the two families officially becoming one.
The details were very "them."
- The Rings: Both were custom Neil Lane. Hers was a romantic, sparkly eternity band; his was a wide platinum band with a matte texture.
- The Vows: They wrote their own. Apparently, Mark-Paul’s were a total tear-jerker.
- The Honeymoon: They jetted off to Italy right after.
Life Beyond the Spotlight
If you see Mark-Paul on The Jennifer Hudson Show or catching up with old costars, he’s very vocal about his priorities. He’s 51 now. He’s got four kids: Michael and Ava (from his first marriage to Lisa Ann Russell) and Dekker and Lachlyn (with Catriona).
He doesn't live in the heart of Los Angeles anymore. A few years back, the family packed up and moved further out to get away from the noise. He describes his daily life as being a "short-order cook" and an "Uber driver" for his kids. Whether it's soccer practice or school runs, Catriona and Mark-Paul are deep in the trenches of parenting.
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One of the coolest things about their dynamic? They actually prioritize their mental health as a couple. Mark-Paul has shared that Catriona was the one who encouraged him to go to therapy with her. It wasn't because things were falling apart, but because they wanted to stay ahead of the game. He credit’s that communication for why they’re still so solid after over a decade of marriage.
The Reality of a Big Family
Raising four kids across a wide age gap is no joke. Michael is in his early 20s now, while Lachlyn is just hitting double digits. Mark-Paul has talked about how "bummed out" he gets thinking about the math of aging—wanting to be around to see his youngest kids turn 50.
But for now, they’re just living it. Catriona is the one who goes all-out for Christmas, starting the decorating the day after Thanksgiving. Mark-Paul is the guy hauling the boxes out of the garage. It’s a normal, messy, busy life.
It’s refreshing. In a town where marriages often last as long as a season of a sitcom, these two seem to have found a rhythm that works. They aren't trying to be a "power couple." They’re just a couple.
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Key Insights for Fans
If you’re following the family’s journey, keep an eye on Mark-Paul’s social media or his occasional podcast appearances where he talks about the "dad life." He’s very protective of his kids' privacy—he’s even said he doesn't want them in the acting business because it's an "adult business"—so you won't see them exploited for clicks.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch 'Found' on NBC: If you want to see Mark-Paul’s current work (and the show his wife and kids actually watch with him), check out this thriller series.
- Listen to 'Zack to the Future': For a dose of nostalgia, his podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at his early career, often mentioning how his perspective has changed since becoming a family man.
- Follow Reliable Sources: For updates on the family, stick to verified interviews with People or major talk shows, as Mark-Paul and Catriona keep a relatively low profile on private matters.