Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar — who rose to fame as Zack Morris on Saved By The Bell — fired his mother, Paula Gosselaar, as his manager when he was just 19. 

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Fired His Mother Decades Ago

The Dutch-American actor opened up on the reason behind letting go of his mother as his manager in Awards Chatter with The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg. 

Gosselaar mentioned that growing up; it was normal for kids to have their parents as managers. The actor added that is what happened to him too.

However, the problem started when the Saved By The Bell actor noticed missing out on things because of his mother’s incompetence as a manager.

He revealed that his fellow actor mates were getting strategic opportunities and professional help from their managers in the form of meetings and auditions, and he was not getting any of those. 

After a certain point, the then 19-year-old actor had enough, and he fired his mother. The reason behind him firing his mother was the fine distinction of her being a parent rather than a professional making his job easier and manageable for him.  

There’s a fine line between being a manager and being a parent. You’re driving your kids to set and taking them to auditions, and I don’t know if that categorizes [someone] as being a manager. 

Generally, the actor talked about his parents and childhood fondly. But, after he started monitoring and controlling his career-related decisions, he went through some serious issues with his parents.   

Following his marriage with former model Lisa Ann Russell in 1996, the actor cut off contact with them over money and career disputes. His wife Russell had a differing perspective and decided not to judge his parents because, according to her, they raised him a wonderful man. 

In 1998, his mother Paula shared her grief to People in response to her son’s behavior. 

Mark-Paul kicked me out of his life. I really don’t know why. Maybe through the years we will come together.

Has Mark-Paul Gosselaar Reconciled with His Mother?

Mark Paul Gosselaar with his wife, children and mother

Mark-Paul Gosselaar with his wife, children, and mother (Source: Paula Gosselaar's Facebook)

It’s been over two decades since the Gosselaar family feud. However, the Facebook posts of the actors’ mother suggested that his relationship with his parents has been amended. 

In a video uploaded on September 30, 2015, on the YouTube channel The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the actor spoke fondly about his mother and said they’d moved on from the old feuds.

Reminiscing 'Saved by the Bell'

In a July 2021 episode of the Zack to the Future podcast, the actor reminisced about his time on Saved by the Bell and his "undeniable on-screen chemistry with fellow cast member Leah Remini.

 Gosselaar mentioned that despite fans being on Team Zack and Kelly, and there existing a bond with Tiffani, the most chemistry he had was with Remini. 

"There’s not a single person that Zack comes into contact with, in my opinion, that has the chemistry that you and I had,” said Gosselaar in parting.