Then vs. Now: ‘Saved by the Bell’ Stars

“Saved by the Bell” became one of the defining teen sitcoms of the late 1980s and early 1990s, turning the halls of Bayside High School into a familiar setting for an entire generation.

The series followed Zack Morris and his circle of friends as they dealt with school, dating, friendships, sports and the occasional surprisingly serious issue, all while Principal Richard Belding tried to keep order.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar became the face of the show as Zack, the charming troublemaker known for elaborate schemes and for occasionally breaking the fourth wall to speak directly to viewers.

Gosselaar continued acting long after leaving Bayside, taking on dramatically different roles in series including “NYPD Blue,” “Franklin & Bash,” “Pitch” and “Mixed-ish.”

Tiffani Thiessen played Kelly Kapowski, the popular cheerleader who became one of the most recognizable television characters of the era.

Thiessen eventually traded Bayside for Beverly Hills when she joined “Beverly Hills, 90210” as Valerie Malone, giving audiences a much different character from the wholesome Kelly.