List of Saved by the Bell characters
The American television sitcom Saved by the Bell, that aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993, follows a group of six high school students and their principal, Mr. Belding.
Main characters
Zack Morris
Kelly Kapowski
Kelly Kapowski (portrayed by Tiffani Amber Thiessen) is the most popular girl in school and is head cheerleader and captain of the volleyball, swim, and softball teams. Though a good student and role model, Kelly did find herself sentenced to detention on a couple of occasions. She is also a big fan of George Michael. She also is the love interest and later wife of Zack Morris.
At the start of her freshman year, Zack had been trying to go out with Kelly ever since she can remember. For a while, a feud began between Zack and fellow student A.C. Slater over who would be her boyfriend, which caused her great stress, but a lot of fun at the same time. Kelly blushed numerous times when both Zack and Slater would hit on her, especially when it was done in front of other students. During her sophomore year, Slater conceded defeat to Zack and she and Zack began dating, whereas Slater thereupon pursued his interest in Jessie Spano.
The following school year marked the end of their relationship. Zack wanted to go steady with Kelly, but she is not sure at first. She thought it over but by the time she decided to accept Zack's offer, he had become infatuated with a young school nurse. That turned out to be a dead-end, but when he tried to apologize to Kelly and get her back, she brushed him off. However, they were back together in the following episode ("Breaking Up is Hard to Undo"). Kelly began working at The Max as a waitress and fell for her boss, Jeff Hunter (Patrick Muldoon), much to Zack's disappointment. This caused her and Zack to break up. Kelly dated Jeff for a while, until he is caught at an 18-and-over club (The Attic) with another girl.
Subsequently, Kelly and Zack became closer friends, though they dated other people. While vacationing in Palm Springs for Jessie Spano's father's wedding, Zack and Kelly flirted with the possibility of getting together again but ended up remaining friends.
In her senior year, she is once again pursued by Zack to accompany him to the prom. She agrees, and they get back together. As graduation approached, Kelly stated she could not afford to go to an out-of-state university and instead would attend community college. She and her friends graduated from Bayside High in 1993 and went their separate ways.
In Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Kelly is accepted into California University, joining Zack, Slater, and Screech as suitemates. She also became the new roommate of Leslie Burke and Alex Taber. While at Cal. U., Kelly engaged in an affair with her anthropology professor, Jeremiah Lasky. Zack makes a final attempt to win her over when she decides to go on a "Semester on the Sea" program through the Mediterranean for three months. Zack proposed to Kelly, and she accepted.
Without much support from their families, Zack and Kelly had planned to get married in Las Vegas in Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. The couple managed to bring Slater, Screech, and Lisa Turtle with them for the event. Just prior to the exchange of vows at the ceremony at a cheap wedding chapel, Zack's parents showed up and stopped the wedding. They told Zack and Kelly that they would give them the wedding of their dreams. A few days later, Zack and Kelly had an elaborate outdoor wedding in the Las Vegas area. Lisa and Jessie stood as bridesmaids while Screech and Slater stood as groomsmen. The newlyweds then went on a honeymoon.
When Zack and Slater made guest appearances on Saved by the Bell: The New Class a few years later, Slater asked Zack how "the Mrs." (meaning Kelly) is doing, Zack replied, "Good."
Samuel "Screech" Powers
Samuel "Screech" Powers (portrayed by Dustin Diamond) is one of only two characters to remain from the beginning of the franchise until the end. He appeared in Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell, Saved by the Bell: The College Years and Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Screech is seen as the geek of his peer group. Although he is often recognized for his academic abilities, his lack of common sense and social skills provide frustration within the gang, but also a comic outlet for the show.
In Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Screech is much like he is in all of his other incarnations, only younger. He mentions he has a brother in one episode, but this was written out of all subsequent continuity.
In Saved by the Bell, Screech is the only child of an unseen father and an Elvis-obsessed mother (guest star Ruth Buzzi). In addition, he has a dog named Hound Dog, and a robot pal named Kevin, whom he built and programmed himself. He often exhibits low self-esteem when it comes to girls, in contrast to his more popular friends.
During his years at Bayside High, Screech frequently pursues classmate Lisa Turtle and is consistently turned down by her. However, she does agree to date him in one episode, only to spoil the date by talking through the movie. She also attends senior prom with him, because she is moved by his sadness after he was harshly rejected by every other girl he asked.
It is revealed in one episode that Screech is of Italian ancestry.
Screech does eventually end up with a girlfriend, Violet Anne Bickerstaff (played by the then unknown Tori Spelling), and dates her for several episodes. Violet is then never seen again, without any explanation.
Screech is frequently roped into scams by his best friend, Zack. As a running gag, he often unwittingly sabotages them. In spite of all his faults, Screech is well liked by his friends.
Upon graduating, Screech and his friends Zack, Slater, and Kelly, attend California University in Saved by the Bell: The College Years. Screech remains there until his sophomore year, when he begins a work-study program at his alma mater, Bayside High, alongside Principal Richard Belding.
In Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, Screech attends Zack and Kelly's wedding. He served as Zack's best man in the wedding along with Slater. This is mentioned in an episode of Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which aired around the time of the movie's release.
From season two in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Screech is initially in the role as Belding's administrative assistant as part of a work-study program. Screech retains the same bumbling tendencies he did as a teenager, often irritating Belding and leading to his new what-did-I-do catachcall "Zoinks!" (an utterance originally made famous by Shaggy Rogers from Scooby-Doo). However, Screech remains at Bayside in this capacity until the end of the series. Mr. Belding leaves to pursue a new job at the University of Chattanooga at the end of the series.
A.C. Slater
Albert Clifford "A.C." Slater (portrayed by Mario Lopez) is a popular jock who excelled in most sports (particularly football and amateur wrestling). An Army brat, he is an outsider, having transferred to Bayside in the first filmed episode (which aired later as a flashback). A.C. mentions that he has been to Bolivia, Italy, Iceland, and Berlin among other places. He becomes the school's star athlete, excelling as a wrestler and the quarterback of the football team, but does not excel in the class room.
His father, Martin (a Major in the U.S. Army), appears in two episodes. His mother, Lorraine, however, is not in any episodes. He also has a younger sister named J.B. whom Zack briefly began dating, much to Slater's chagrin. In the season four episode "Love Machine," his ex-girlfriend from Berlin visits and calls him by his real name, "Albert Clifford ".
Much like Voorhies, Lopez was able to captivate the show's producers into casting him into a role that was originally written to be Caucasian. This issue of Slater's ethnicity is addressed in "Slater's War" from The College Years, where it is revealed that 25 years earlier A.C.'s father changed his last name from Sanchez to Slater so he could get into the military academy. Although the episode reveals that A.C. does not fluently understand Spanish, A.C. is seen speaking broken Spanish to the kitchen staff of the Malibu Sands Beach club.
At the start of freshman year in Saved by the Bell, Slater arrives as a transfer student, immediately making an enemy of Zack Morris by attempting to make a move on Kelly Kapowski. Both boys end up in detention after schemes to be with Kelly backfire on both of them. While in detention, Slater reveals to Zack that he had transferred in and out of various schools throughout his life due to his father being a Major in the army. Their mutual understanding of a father putting something else before his son would serve as the ice breaker between the two (Zack's own father was too busy with his job and never paid attention to him or his academics). By the end of the first season, Zack and Slater find themselves bonding over similar social standing, popularity among women, and athletic ability. During Season 2, the rivalry between the two is toned down, and they begin to become friends. Slater grew into the habit of calling Zack "Preppie" which he at first intended as an ongoing insult, but once they became friends, Slater used the term as an affectionate nickname for Zack. Slater goes on to date feminist Jessie Spano on and off for the remainder of High School.
Throughout the course of the show, Slater and Zack compete for many other girls which often puts a strain on their friendship (one instance culminated in a brawl between the two early in Senior Year.) In the end though, their friendship is more important to them than any girl that would possibly come between them.
In Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Slater is accepted into California University, along with Zack, Screech, and Kelly as suite mates and begins dating Alex Taber, one of Kelly's roommates. While there, Slater continues his passion for wrestling and works in the University's main restaurant. Along with Screech, Slater serves as Zack's best man at his wedding to Kelly in Las Vegas in Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. Slater makes two return guest appearances in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, firstly in "Goodbye, Bayside" Part 2, along with Zack and Lisa when a millionaire alumnus J. Walter McMillan plans to buy the school and tear it down for the purpose of constructing a condo, and in "Fire at the Max: Part 2", where he reminisces on fond memories he had with his friends at the diner, after it was accidentally burned down by student Ryan Parker, who forgot to turn off the Christmas lights.
Jessie Spano
Jessica "Jessie" Myrtle Spano (portrayed by Elizabeth Berkley) is a lifelong friend of Zack, Screech, Lisa and Kelly. She and Zack live next door to each other, and Zack regularly visits Jessie by climbing through her window. Her parents are divorced. She lives with her mother, who remarried in the third season, providing Jessie with a stepbrother, Eric (played by Joshua Hoffman) from New York City, seen in only two episodes. Jessie's father is the owner and manager of the Marriott Desert Sands resort. He also becomes remarried in the hour-long "Palm Springs Weekend" episode, to a much younger woman with whom Jessie did not initially get along and was against marrying. She eventually accepted Leslie for who she was and becomes friends with her (Jessie's father is played by George McDaniel, and her new stepmother, Leslie, is played by Barbra Brighton).
Jessie is portrayed as a liberal (She critiqued then-president George H W Bush), with strong feminist views. She is often the first to speak up when she feels something is unjust. Although seen as intelligent, Jessie has a somewhat neurotic streak.
Jessie is the class president. In a close election, she initially lost to Zack. However, Zack used underhanded techniques to win the election in order to get a free trip to Washington, D.C., but upon realizing that being class president would be a much better fit for his friend Jessie, Zack stepped down from office, naming Jessie the president. Jessie remains president for the remainder of her time at Bayside.
From sophomore year until the end of the series, Jessie dates athlete A.C. Slater in an "opposites attract" relationship, which causes friction between the both of them. Slater's pet name for Jessie is "Mama." Jessie and Slater's relationship is put to the test several times over the course of the series. Jessie also has a brief romantic encounter with Zack when the two are forced to endure a kissing scene in a school play. Additionally, she has a crush on one-time character Graham (played by David Kreigel), with whom she spends cut day. (This last encounter ultimately leads to her and Slater's break up).
Most notable is Jessie's struggle with addiction to over-the-counter caffeine pills, in the episode entitled "Jessie's Song." Pressure from school and social obligations, and her desire to be accepted into Stanford University, drive Jessie to take caffeine pills in order to stay awake. Eventually she gets hooked on the pills and has a breakdown as Zack comes to her rescue.
Another ongoing issue is Jessie's height. She often considers herself too tall, and has therefore developed a bit of an insecurity complex, especially when it comes to shorter boys, and sometimes superficially judges men based on their height. Additionally, she is known as Jessie "Legs" Spano to some. Jessie would later stop judging men based on their height when she begins dating Slater.
In an early episode, Jessie reveals that she attended dance camp as a child. As such, she is an experienced dancer. Jessie is also on the swim team. Jessie later joins Kelly and Lisa as cheerleaders (because, according to Jessie, it looks good to colleges).
Before graduation, Jessie has her hopes pinned on becoming valedictorian, but ultimately loses out to Screech. However, Screech realizes how important it is to her, and concedes the honor to Jessie. Jessie soon realizes just how much valedictorian meant to Screech and gives it back to him.
After graduation, Jessie goes off to attend Columbia University.[1]
In Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, Jessie, with Lisa, returns as one of Kelly's bridesmaids at Zack and Kelly's wedding in Las Vegas. This was her final appearance to date in the show.
Lisa Turtle
Lisa Marie Turtle (portrayed by Lark Voorhies) is the rich girl of the group, whose parents both worked as physicians. She is frequently seen wearing designer clothing.
In her first appearance in Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Lisa plays a more secondary role than she later would in the later incarnations of the series. She attends John F. Kennedy Junior High with Zack Morris and Samuel "Screech" Powers.
Throughout her high school years in Saved by the Bell, Lisa spends most of her time fighting off the affections of Screech, who is relentless in pursuing her (and eventually wins at least one date with her) and has been doing so since they were in Kindergarten. Despite her irritation with Screech, she values him as a friend, and eventually comes to admire Screech's nobility when he abdicates his position as the class valedictorian in favor of Jessie Spano, who had a slightly lower grade point average than he did, but valued the position more. Lisa even went to the senior prom with Screech when she felt sorry that no one would go with him, when he promised to respect her comfort zone and not ask her, but she decided that she wants him to be her prom date. Most of Lisa's time is spent in the company of schoolmates and fellow cheerleaders Kelly Kapowski and Jessie Spano.
Unlike the rest of her friends, Lisa does not have a long-term relationship during high school (despite having countless dates), although she has a short term romance with Zack Morris in the episode "The Bayside Triangle," much to the chagrin of Screech. To keep his friendship with Screech, Zack must break up with Lisa. However, this is forgotten about in following episodes. "Screech's Spaghetti Sauce" involves Screech on a date with a girl who is impressed by him, causing Lisa to be in a state of disbelief.
Upon graduating, Lisa is accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Lisa only makes one guest appearance in Saved by the Bell: The College Years when she visits her former classmates Zack, Screech, Kelly, and A.C. Slater at California University in the episode "Wedding Plans", after hearing of Zack and Kelly's engagement. In Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, Lisa and Jessie were Kelly's bridesmaids for her wedding to Zack. Lisa returns to Bayside High along with Zack and Slater in "Goodbye Bayside: Part 2" (from Saved by the Bell: The New Class), where they are reunited with Screech (now working at Bayside on a work-study program) and their principal Mr. Belding when the school is under threat of being torn down by an alumnus.
Mr. Belding
Mr. Richard Belding (portrayed by Dennis Haskins) is the principal of Bayside High School. In his first appearance in the pilot of Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Mr. Belding's first name was Gerald, and the character was played by Oliver Clark. Other than Miss Bliss, the character of Mr. Belding was the only one carried over when the show began production. The character also appeared in Saved by the Bell: The New Class and guest starred in "A Thanksgiving Story" (from Saved by the Bell: The College Years). He is one of only two characters to remain from the beginning of the franchise until the end (the other being Samuel "Screech" Powers). Mr. Belding's name is a pun referencing the onomatopoeia "ding" that comes from a bell, (a "bell ding"). His signature catchphrase is "Hey, hey, hey, hey! What is going on here?", usually uttered after finding out about something ridiculous occurring at the school.[2]
Mr. Belding's most frequent nemesis is Zack Morris; however, throughout the series, it is abundantly clear the two like and respect each other, arguably because in "Save the Max" it is revealed that when Belding was a student himself he was a disc jockey and one who would rebel against school authority, prompting the comment that he was "the Zack Morris of the 1960s". On at least one occasion, Belding has even called Zack Morris "the son [he] never had". A small joke was also that Belding was open about his past failures with women prior to his marriage, such as when he was in the U.S. Army and in love with a North Vietnamese girl, where "even she was with the enemy! Belding's family has appeared in the series on many occasions. The most frequent appearances were by his infant son, named in honor of Zack. When Belding's wife (Becky) went into labor in an elevator, Zack Morris, along with classmate Tori Scott, helped deliver him.
Much of Belding's humor comes from his attempts to make jokes, sing or being generally tricked and scammed by Zack. Despite Zack's ideas that he knew Belding inside and out, occasionally Belding would reveal that he had other ideas to deal with issues, thus outfoxing Zack. He also was against the Bayside-Valley High prank war and in spite of his best efforts to call a truce with Valley High's principal, the war continued until then end of the cheerleading competition when one of the students from Valley was exposed.
Belding also has a small rivalry with fellow teacher Mr. Tuttle, who was also in line for the position of Principal at Bayside. He also had a friendly rivalry with Brandon Tartikoff over courtship of Belding's wife, but Tartikoff accepted that he got the short end of the straw and accepted the eventual presidency of NBC (thus implicitly breaking the fourth wall, since Tartikoff actually was president of NBC at the time) while Mr. Belding was "happily married and got to be principal of a school of great kids."
Belding remains the one constant between all the series and in the second season of The New Class, he is reunited with Bayside High alumnus Samuel "Screech" Powers, who is studying to become a teacher. Screech becomes Mr. Belding's administrative assistant until the end of the series, when Belding decides to take a job as dean of a College in Tennessee. It is assumed by some fans that Screech becomes the principal after the series ended, although it was never confirmed.
In 2012, Dennis Haskins reprised his role as Mr. Belding on the hit Nickelodeon series Victorious in the episode "April Fools Blank".
Tori Scott
Tori Scott (portrayed by Leanna Creel) arrives at Bayside during senior year, making an immediate enemy of Zack Morris by parking her motorcycle in his usual parking space on her first day. Eventually, things thaw between Tori and Zack and they later begin dating, but broke up in the episode "The Will" due to Zack's sexist behavior. After the episode "School Song," Tori is never seen or mentioned again.
Bayside faculty
Mrs. Culpepper
Mrs. Culpepper is the school’s de facto art teacher (although she is seen teaching history during Cut Day) and made appearances in both junior year and senior year. She is always involved in comical situations in which she bumped into lockers and mistook inanimate objects for living things due to her bad eyesight. At one point she even accidentally made Mr. Belding think she is in love with him; when he talked to her about her "crush" she became completely flustered, and later punched him the face for continuing to "reassure" her that he had no romantic designs towards her.
Mr. Dewey
Mr. Dewey (Patrick Thomas O'Brien) is a math teacher who also oversaw detention. He represented the archetypal down-on-his-luck, more-bored-than-the-kids, depressed teacher. He spoke in a monotonous voice, is sarcastic, always wore glasses, and once auditioned for American Gladiators. He is also Bayside's vice-principal. Mr. Dewey also appeared in the New Class.
Doctor Mertz
Dr. Mertz (Avery Schreiber) is a science teacher that seems to want the students to enjoy his class, giving out awards such as a molecule hat to Screech. His Science test stresses Kelly because she has concert tickets that she won't get to use if she fails. Zack hoping to get on Kelly's good side arranges for Screech to tutor Kelly. The plan backfires when Kelly develops romantic feelings for Screech. Kelly manages to pass Dr. Mertz's test but finds that without the need for a tutor, she and Screech really do not have much in common.
Mr. Dickerson
Played by Raf Mauro, Dickerson is a history teacher known for his unfriendly demeanor and an impossible midterm that no student had passed in three years, something he seems to be very proud of. In the episode "The Fabulous Belding Boys," Dickerson has a nervous breakdown and is replaced by the very popular Rod Belding.
Mr. Heimlich
Mr. Heimlich (appeared in episode: "Earthquake!") is the physics teacher. Since the episode revolves primarily around Becky Belding's baby and the earthquake, he did not have a very large part. He had a German accent and cheerfully assured the class that an upcoming exam would be impossible to pass, but Zack set up a quick in-school baby shower for Becky and they were able to defer that exam to another day.
Nurse Jennifer
Nurse Jennifer (played by Nancy Valen) is a school nurse that showed up for only one episode during sophomore year to replace Nurse “Blind-as-a-bat” Butcher. Zack decided to scrap his plans for a steady relationship with Kelly in order to pursue a romance with Jennifer. However, Jennifer is aware of the plot and managed to frighten Zack away by coming on to him and saying that she needed to escape her violent husband who is a professional wrestler (which may or may not have been true).
Coach Rizzo
Coach Rizzo, one of the many coaches at Bayside, made his one appearance during the episode “Slater’s Friend” as a substitute for an English class; his teaching this class is supposed to be funny because he spoke with a heavy Italian accent. He stood up at Artie the Lizard’s funeral and said some kind words about the reptile.
Mrs. Simpson
Mrs. Simpson (Pamela Kosh) is the nearly deaf, British-accented teacher who taught English class. She also appeared at the beginning of junior year and embarrassed Kelly and Zack by referring to them as “Bayside’s Most Beloved Couple” just a short while after they broke up. She said she didn't like Zack, and once wore a hearing aid that she discarded because the titular bell caused painful sound waves to assault her. She also made an appearance in the pilot episode of The New Class.
Coach Sonski
Coach Sonski (played by comedian Monty Hoffman) is the wrestling coach at Bayside High. He is overweight with a testosterone-laden personality, and has been shown to be a sexist (mainly in "Hold Me Tight"). He depends on Slater as his star athlete.
Coach Sonski is also shown as Bayside's auto shop instructor in the episode where Jessie's new stepbrother comes to California. He retains his sense of humor as well as his macho attitude throughout the episodes, though he once confessed to watching Oprah because he is "sensitive to dames".
Mr. Tuttle
Tuttle (portrayed by Jack Angeles) is an enthusiastic, overweight teacher (perhaps a foil for the thin, dour Mr. Dewey). He is well-liked by the students but had a mutually unfriendly relationship with Mr. Belding, stemming largely from Tuttle having been runner-up to Belding when Bayside had chosen a new principal. He also served as a leader in the local teacher's union, a driver's education teacher, and a music teacher.
George Testaverde
Mr. Testaverde (portrayed by John Moschitta) is a history teacher (in the episode "The Gift"). He is nicknamed "Terrible" Testaverde by the students because he is one of the hardest teachers at Bayside. Not only is he tough on grading and exams, but he gave lectures in "speed talk", causing Jessie to almost set fire to the papers she wrote on, and Screech to write with both hands. Both Jessie and Screech actually tried to keep up, but Zack totally ignored the lecture and listened to music instead.
Ms. Wentworth
Ms. Wentworth (portrayed by Carol Lawrence) is the Social Studies teacher during sophomore year who piqued Zack’s interest in his family heritage by assigning a family research project. She also taught the class about subliminal advertising, which led to a predictably hair-brained scheme from Zack. Ms. Wentworth is one of Bayside's more enthusiastic and unorthodox teachers. Like Mr. Tuttle, she is one of the few teachers who genuinely seems to like Zack, and seems to be popular with her students, because she is serious about her job but treats them nicely and has a good sense of humor.
Bayside students
Kristy Barnes
Kristy Barnes (Krystee Clark) is a female wrestler (in "Hold Me Tight" [3.20]) who joins the team despite much protest from Coach Sonski. She and Zack date, and Zack is embarrassed when Kristy beats up a Valley wrestler who is trying to fight with Zack. Although Kristy and Slater’s relationship is purely wrestling-related, Jessie ends up getting jealous as the two spend time together in the gym in close physical contact. When Jessie insults Kristy, Jessie then realizes she is wrong about who the female wrestler likes. She joins forces with Zack to convince Kristy to rejoin the team, and Zack resumes dating her.
Violet Ann Bickerstaff
Violet (Tori Spelling) is a nerdy character (appearing in 3 episodes in seasons 2 & 3) who was originally dating Maxwell Nerdstrom, but she dumped him in favor of Screech (whom she commonly addresses by his real name "Samuel"), as Maxwell had treated her poorly. In her first appearance, she knocks over Screech's mother's statue of Elvis Presley. This leads to a moneymaking scheme by the gang to get $250 for a new statue. Violet comes from an upper class family who disapproves of her relationship with Screech, mainly due to the fact he is from a lower class, despite the fact he and Violet share many common interests. In another episode, Violet is shown to have a beautiful singing voice, but is too shy to sing solo for Bayside's abysmal school choir until Screech supports her. She then quits the choir after Screech embarrasses her at a disastrous dinner with her folks, but when he comes out and sings her opposite, saving the day for her it convinces the Bickerstaffs that he is a good guy, and they say they no longer object to him dating their daughter.
Heather Brooks
Heather (portrayed by Christine Taylor) is a brief love interest of Zack's (in "S.A.T.'s" [3.17]). Zack sits behind her while taking the test and invites her over to study when she shows interest in him after he scored 1502 on his S.A.T.'s, although things go downhill for Zack when she invites her boyfriend Bob over for some study help too.
Ginger
Ginger (portrayed by Bridgette Wilson) is an air-headed blonde (appearing in 5 season 4 episodes) who dates Zack a few times, but annoys him because she has little to say beyond asking him if she has lipstick on her teeth.
Graham
Graham (portrayed by David Kriegel) is a student (appearing in "Cut Day" [3.23]) who has progressive views that dovetail with Jessie's, earning her attention when he points out that the U.S. has never had a female President while other countries have (he mentions Indira Gandhi and Golda Meir). During the Junior Cut Day, Jessie and Graham stay behind in school to protest the delivery of a package of Styrofoam cups. It is Graham’s presence, and the fact that Slater sees her having fun hanging out with him, that leads Jessie and Slater to consider dating other people.
Jennifer
Jennifer (portrayed by Stephanie Furst, appearing in "Love Machine" [4.11]) revealed herself to be Slater’s ex-girlfriend from his days as an army brat in West Germany. Zack first dated her at Slater's behest (Slater did not want Jessie to know he was still attracted to Jennifer), but Jennifer finds out Slater's ruse from Screech and dances closely with Zack at the Max, leading Slater to get angry and later to call Jennifer "his girlfriend." Jessie storms away in a rage before Kelly tells her she has to let Slater go and see if there is anything to hold onto. While Jessie sadly allows Slater the chance to date his ex to see if the flame is still there, it turns out that the two (Slater and Jennifer) are now incompatible: time had changed them both. She then asks Zack out and he says he'd love to go out with her.
Joanna Peterson
Joanna (Shana Furlow) is a transfer student (in "The Fight") who becomes the object of affection for both Zack and Slater, resulting in a strife that culminates in a physical fight, in which Zack and Slater duke it out for her affection. Joanna is so disgusted with the boys’ actions that she refuses to have anything to do with either of them.
Rhonda Robistelli
Rhonda (portrayed by Kirsten Holmquist) is Bayside’s resident tomboy. She is a tall, lanky girl with disheveled blond hair (appearing in 3 season 1 episodes). She and Zack have one date, during which she forcibly plants a kiss on his lips. Rhonda also tries to join the cheerleading squad in "Save That Tiger" and tries out for the team when one of the regulars is injured right before the big competition against Valley. Her audition is clumsy and the girls eventually talk Jessie into taking the spot.
Robin
Robin (portrayed by Soleil Moon Frye, also known as TV's Punky Brewster) is a stuck-up girl (appearing in “Screech’s Spaghetti Sauce” [4.3]) who takes advantage of Screech's affections toward her because of his rapidly growing spaghetti sauce business in order to con money and gifts from him. Screech's friends are apparently aware of her true nature and tries to warn him about Robin. Although Screech showers her with expensive gifts, including several articles of jewelry, she informs him at the end that she believed him to be a geek and a loser. She receives her comeuppance, however, in the form of a bogus buyback deal for Screech’s spaghetti sauce recipe after the gang learns from a lawyer that Screech's recipe was from the Betty Crocker Cookbook.
"Big" Pete Stonebreaker
Pete Stonebreaker (Bryan Cooper) is one of the tallest nerds at Bayside (appearing in 2 episodes in seasons 3 & 4) who made his first appearance in an episode during the Malibu Sands storyline as a volleyball player when Screech was trying to recruit some members to replace Gary, an injured volleyball player.
Bryan Watkins
Bryan Watkins (portrayed by Patrick J. Dancy) is one of Bayside’s more intellectual students and Student Council Vice President (in "Date Auction" [3.15]). Lisa wins him at the date auction, but he is repulsed by her perceived shallowness and frivolous personality. Although Lisa puts on an intelligent air in order to impress Bryan (e.g. discussing Anna Karenina and the nature of art), she eventually gets fed up with his snobby behavior and habit of putting down her friends and tells him off.
Louise
Louise (Lara Lyon) is a nerdy Bayside student with blonde hair in pigtails and horn-rimmed glasses (appearing in 3 episodes in seasons 2 & 4) who is sometimes shown as a friend of Screech's. She enrolls in the Army JROTC program at Bayside after Zack convinces her that in the US Army men outnumber women. She is placed on Zack's "nerd team" in a physical competition to compete against Slater's better qualified team. Zack learns a lesson about leadership when he must encourage his team to realize their potential, which included telling Louise she could climb a rope. She returns in the episode "1-900-Crushed", where she confides she has feelings for the jock "Moose", whose feelings are mutual, but she worries about the mismatched relationship. She is the queen bee of the school's nerd clique, and Zack goes out on a date with her during his campaign to earn the nod for writing the new school song, knowing she would convince Bayside's geeks and dweebs to vote for him. Slater tells another high-ranking geek that Zack's "date" with Louise could set a precedent where other popular guys begin dating geek girls, which inspired the geeks to cast their votes in the song contest for Screech's entry.
Moose
Moose (portrayed by Mark Clayman) is a very dumb and childlike jock, much like his fellow football teammate Ox (appearing in 3 episodes in seasons 2 & 4). He is seen dating Louise in the episode "1-900-Crushed", and also has a minor speaking role in the episode "Student-Teacher Week."
Maxwell Nerdstrom
Nerdstrom (portrayed by Jeffrey Asch) is a rich nerd (appearing in 2 episodes in seasons 2 & 4) who is Violet Bickerstaff’s boyfriend and treats her rather poorly, although he does buy her a gold-plated pocket protector. His poor treatment of her is one of the factors in her becoming Screech’s girlfriend. While most of the nerds comport themselves with a bumbling dignity at most, Nerdstrom goes above and beyond, behaving as a pompous, stuck-up geek. He defeats Zack in a game of poker, but gets his comeuppance in the end. Maxwell's perhaps his most noted accomplishment at Bayside is mistakenly kissing Screech’s dog, "Hound Dog" believing him to be Jessie, to everybody’s delight. He is later humiliated when Screech pointed out that Maxwell kissed his dog and tells Maxwell to stay out of Violet's life.
Ox
Ox (Troy Fromin) is a member of the Bayside football team and an archetypal "dumb jock" (appearing in 9 episodes in seasons 3 & 4) who pals around with Slater when Slater is without his Core-6 friends. Despite being a jock, he dates a female nerd, and is often shown to be gentler and more sensitive than his size and oafish behavior would suggest. He is among the students who get drunk senior year at the toga party. A similar character named "Moose" also appeared on the show, however.
Wendy Parks
Wendy (Judy Carmen) is an overweight girl who serves as Student Council treasurer (in “Date Auction”) who bids $100 on Zack to win a date with him to the dance. He is mortified and his superficial nature causes him to craft a multitude of lies in order to avoid a date with the Rubenesque Wendy. However, when she finds out the truth, Wendy calls Zack out for hurting her feelings and calls off the date. He realizes his mistake and ends up taking Wendy to the dance and later to the Max (though this is not shown).
Belding family
Rod Belding
Rod Belding (portrayed by Ed Blatchford) is Mr. Belding’s brother and steps in as a substitute teacher during junior year (Screech: "A building with two Beldings, one of whom is balding!"), after Mr. Dickerson has a mental breakdown. He initially makes a hip impression on the students because of his happy-go-lucky attitude, world-weary demeanor, and tales of defying authority and schoolwork. Rod arranges to take the students on the rafting trip for their annual class trip (ruining Mr. Belding's plans to visit Yosemite Park) and attempts to teach them about it. Mr. Belding is overshadowed by his brother’s connection with the students, which is evident in a minor confrontation they have when Mr. Belding tells his brother he is not to be teaching the kids whitewater rafting on official class time. After Zack accuses him of being jealous of Rod, he soon finds out what he's really like on the inside. During a confrontation with the brothers, Rod tries to skip out of the trip just to meet a stewardess named Inga. Mr. Belding is furious that Rod would abandon his commitment to the students and orders him never to come back to Bayside, saying, "Get out of my school." Rod leaves as Zack ducks behind some lockers to avoid his sight. Not wanting to upset his students, Mr. Belding claims that Rod is ill. However, when he offers to chaperone the trip instead, the students happily and gratefully accept. Zack, who had secretly overheard the incident, tells his principal that “we got the better Belding.”
Mrs. (Becky) Belding
Becky Belding, Mr. Belding’s wife (portrayed by Louan Gideon), is featured in the episode “The Earthquake”, in which she, Zack and Tori get stuck in an elevator after a minor earthquake. During the time in the elevator she goes into labor and gives birth to the Beldings' son with the help of Zack, who becomes the baby's namesake.
Penny Belding
Richard Belding’s niece (portrayed by Jodi Peterson) is blonde and bubbly, but no one wants to date her as she is related to the Principal. During Zack’s sophomore year at Bayside, he earns himself a Saturday school detention. In order to be released from serving time and to be able to attend Kelly’s upcoming party, he signs a treaty with Mr. Belding agreeing to take Penny out on a date on Friday in lieu of serving his sentence. After making this agreement, Kelly informs Zack that her birthday party would also be that Friday, since the Max was booked on Saturday. In order to make Kelly’s party, Zack trains Screech to imitate him, so that he could take Penny out on the date instead; this works out well because Penny is attracted to Screech, but she angers Kelly when she says that she is hot for “Zack,” thinking that was who Screech was.
Zack Belding
Richard and Becky Belding’s son, born when Zack, Mrs. Belding, and Tori get stuck in an elevator. He also appears in two episodes of Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
Morris family
Derek Morris
Derek Morris (portrayed by John Sanderford[3]) is the father of Zack. He is a businessman who spends little time with his son. He is very strict and opposed at first for Zack to marry Kelly in the TV Movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas.
Melanie Morris
Melanie Rhonda Morris (portrayed by Melody Rogers[4]) is the mother of Zack. She's more fresh and less strict than her husband Derek. She adores Zack but still she knows some of her son's tricks. She supported Zack's marriage but couldn't do much to aid him in order to respect her husband, in the TV Movie in the Movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas.
Kapowski family
Frank Kapowski
Frank Kapowski (portrayed by John Mansfield) is the father of Kelly and her six other siblings. Kind and loving, he worked at a defense plant, but is laid off in the season two premiere "The Prom". He is also seen at Zack and Kelly's wedding in Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas giving Kelly away, and at the reception with his wife and 2 of Kelly's younger brothers.
Billy Kapowski
Billy Kapowski is Kelly’s baby brother, whom she places in the care of her friends in the episode “The Babysitters” so that she could have her cheerleading picture taken for the school yearbook. Zack is often left alone with Billy as the others make excuses or have other commitments to attend to. Because of this, Billy and Zack bond quickly to the point where Zack distrusts anyone else to care for the baby. He is forced, however, to allow Jessie and Lisa to look after him in their Home Economics/Parenthood class. They lose track of Billy when Screech goes to fetch Billy for Zack but mistakes a doll for the baby. The gang eventually find him in Mr. Belding’s office, and at the end of the episode he speaks his first word: “Zack.”
Kyle Kapowski
Another brother of Kelly's, he disrupts the end of one of Kelly and Zack's dates. Kyle later dumps water on Zack from the second floor of their house after Kelly decided against going steady.
Nicki Kapowski
Nicki Kapowski (portrayed by Laura Mooney) is Kelly’s tomboyish little sister who develops a crush on Zack. She becomes convinced that Zack feels the same way after he mixes up her phone call with Kelly's (while running the "Teen Line"). Although she is only thirteen and in the seventh grade, she nonetheless shows up at Bayside High to visit Zack, sporting a more feminine look and demanding a kiss. After trying various ploys to turn her off (including dressing up like a geek and trying to gross her out with a pet spider), Zack finally has to tell her the truth: he isn’t interested in her; he is in love with Kelly. More angry than hurt, she insults Zack for trying to scare her away instead of having the courage to tell a thirteen-year-old girl how he really feels.
Harry Bannister
Harry Bannister (portrayed by Dean Jones is Kelly's grandfather from the movie Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style. He invites the youngsters to stay at "The Hawaiian Hideaway", a rustic hotel in Hawaii. However, someone else is out to buy his land and build a hotel/resort complex, and the gang has to save it.
Slater family
Maj. Martin Slater
Major Martin Slater (Gerald Castillo) is A.C.’s strict but loving father, who is frequently transferred due to Army obligations. Although he wants his son to attend West Point and enter the military as he himself had done, he eventually changes his views when he sees that Slater wants to attend college on a wrestling scholarship and figure things out from there. He is more frequent in the first season than any of the others. It is later revealed in "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" that Martin's last name was actually "Sanchez," causing an embarrassed A.C. Slater to realize his father concealed his Latino heritage (presumably simple due to his decidedly non-Latino appearance) to avoid rampant bigotry as he entered the military.
J.B. Slater
J.B. is Slater's younger sister. She shows up suddenly to visit A.C. and Zack develops a crush on her. This makes A.C. angry as he knows how big a womanizer Zack is, and forbids them from seeing each other. Once J.B. learns of this, she confronts Slater angrily and tells him to butt out of her love life. He eventually accepts that she'll be dating his best friend and thus wouldn't be so bad. He still warns Zack to "treat her right". She doesn't appear in any other episodes besides "Slater's Sister."
Jessie Spano's stepfamily
Leslie
Leslie (Barbra Brighton) is the aerobics instructor (in the 2-part season 3 episode "Palm Springs Weekend") as well as Jessie's future step-mom. Although Zack makes a pass at her in the beginning of the episode, the gang later finds out Leslie is marrying Jessie's dad. Jessie refers to her future step-mom as an "aerobics bimbo", insults and lies to her, and asks her dad flat-out to not marry her. Her father firmly says he loves Leslie and is marrying her, period. Jessie then refuses to attend the wedding. At the end of the episode, however, Zack convinces Jessie to do the right thing and they arrive (though slightly late) to the wedding on a golf cart, where Jessie apologizes and Leslie forgives her.
Eric Tramer
Eric Tramer (Josh Hoffman) is Jessie’s stepbrother from New York (in the 2-part season 3 episode "The Wicked Step-Brother"). At first excited to have a new stepbrother, Jessie quickly grows to dislike his rough, confrontational and offensive personality. Eric causes trouble and conflict at Bayside, particularly with Zack who feels threatened by the new prankster bad-boy, even going so far as to offer up Mr. Belding’s car for auto shop class dissection to get Zack into trouble. However, after a punch and a speech from Jessie (after he said she was "just a chick"), he reforms his ways, entirely reassembles Belding’s car, and apologizes to all. He was planning to return to NYC, but the gang, particularly Lisa, who had developed feelings for him, convinces him to remain at Bayside.
Malibu Sands characters
Stacey Carosi
Stacey Carosi (portrayed by Leah Remini, appearing in 6 episodes of season 3). She works for her father, Leon Carosi (played by Ernie Sabella), at the Malibu Sands beach resort as a staff manager, in charge of some of the other "SBTB Gang" members. Zack Morris is quickly smitten with her, and is disappointingly shocked to learn that she is the daughter of his boss. Throughout the run of her stint on the show she and Zack progress from flirtation to hostility to eventual romance, marked by their kiss under the fireworks during the Fourth of July celebration.
Cynthia
Cynthia (portrayed by Denise Richards – uncredited), is Slater's secret admirer while he worked at the Malibu Sands Beach Resort (in "The Last Weekend" [3.12]), eventually revealing herself by pretending to drown. Although she and Slater seem to be a couple at the end of the Malibu Sands series, and Slater even informs the gang that Cynthia is coming to Bayside the following school year, she never again appears on the show.
Craig Strand
Craig Strand (Benjamin King) is Stacy Carosi’s preppy boyfriend from back east in Boston, a sophomore at Yale (in "My Boyfriend's Back" [3.8]), who shows up at the beach club and interrupts Zack and Stacy’s fling, even giving Stacy his fraternity pin. Craig defeats Zack in an ATV race after bumping Zack's ATV on the last turn. Ultimately, Stacy sends Craig back home and confides her love for Zack.
The Max's employees and patrons
Max
Max is the owner of The Max (played by Ed Alonzo, in 20 episodes during the first 2 seasons). He often advises the students of Bayside on their choices and dilemmas, and re-inforces his points with magic tricks.
Danielle
Danielle (Julie St. Claire) is a girl that Zack dates for one episode ("Fake I.D.'s"). Zack meets Danielle at the Max after she gets a flat tire. She attempts to use the occupied pay phone, so Zack allows her to use his cell phone. He then changes the flat tire after the tow truck company says it would take an hour. Danielle is a student at USC, so Zack lies and tells her he was also a Trojan. He continues to lie, telling her that he is a Photojournalism major, and the reason that she never saw him on campus is because he is always in the dark room working on a project. However, Danielle ditches Zack upon learning he lied to her.
Jeff Hunter
Jeff Hunter (played by Patrick Muldoon) has a brief tenure (in three episodes of season 3) as the Max’s manager who likes Kelly Kapowski. As a result, Zack and Kelly break up, allowing Jeff and Kelly to begin a relationship. Unfortunately, very soon afterwards Jeff’s infidelity was revealed when he is seen dancing with and kissing a girl at an over-18 club known as The Attic. Kelly breaks up with him as a result.
Show business related characters
James the Actor
James (portrayed by Mark Blankfield) is an out-of-work actor who takes a job as a waiter at the Max (appearing in 2 episodes in seasons 2 & 3). He claims that he was a student at acting school. Most of the work he seems to get as an actor on the show is in the employ of Zack. In the season 3 episode "SATs," Zack hires James to do a double role as Stanley Alan Taylor (S.A.T.), who orders Mr. Belding to lighten up Zack's workload after his grades have dropped, then to play an admissions officer for Harvard who acts snooty and elitist to everyone. In the season 2 episode "Rent-a-Pop," Zack hired James to impersonate his father after Belding demanded he meet with him as a condition to go on a ski trip in order to report on Zack's failing grades; to which Zack was convinced his real father would not let him go if he knew the truth. Zack then has to hire James again to play Mr. Belding after his real father accepts a letter to meet Belding once more, where James falsifies Zack's grades as spectacular. James the Actor also made two appearances on Saved By the Bell: The New Class.
Johnny Dakota
Johnny Dakota (portrayed by Eddie Garcia) is a movie star who chooses Bayside as the site for filming an anti-drug PSA for NBC in the 1991 episode "No Hope with Dope". Zack thinks this is a great idea, seeing this as a chance for stylish parties and to get close to Hollywood babes. However, during a party at his house, the gang discovers that Johnny is a marijuana user. Zack attempts to get him to call off filming the PSA, feeling it would be hypocritical for Johnny to tell millions of young people not to use drugs when he himself is a drug user, but Johnny refuses. When the gang refuses to participate as a result of his drug habit, Johnny angrily leaves Bayside without filming. The gang then films an anti-drug PSA with the help of Mr. Belding's friend, Brandon Tartikoff.
Brian Fate
Brian Fate (portrayed by Nick Brooks) is a British record producer who picks up Zack Attack and makes them famous in the episode “Rockumentary” (3.22). Although he has confidence in the band and takes them to the top, he cannot stop the inevitable breakup that occurs as a result of Mindy, the band’s publicist. Since the entire episode is just a dream, he may not have existed in the "real world" of the show.
Linda
Linda (portrayed by Bryn Erin – uncredited) has a very brief role in the "Rockumentary" episode. After the band splits up and each member goes their separate way, Slater has a race car accident leading to the band meeting again. Screech shows up (after seeking wisdom from the high geek) to the hospital with a cheerleader, Linda. She takes regular sentences and makes cheers from them, leading eventually to Lisa threatening her, "if ya don't get ridda Linda, I'ma throw her out the winda" "B-Y-E BYE!" after which she leaves the room. Like to Brian Fate, she was part of the entire fantasy of the episode, and thus probably did not exist in the real world.
Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff, a television executive for NBC, appeared as himself in the episode "No Hope With Dope" (3.21). After Johnny Dakota was revealed to be a pot-smoker and subsequently left Bayside without finishing the anti-drug commercial being filmed there, Mr. Belding phoned Tartikoff, whom he had been childhood friends with, at NBC to see if he could help them. Tartikoff ended up assisting the teens in finishing the commercial. Afterwards, impressed with the rapport Belding had with his students, he suggested the idea of a TV show about "a group of kids and their principal" before shaking his head and saying that it "would never work" (an obvious meta-joke on SBTB itself).
Valley students
Dan and Stan Clegg
Cousins and Valley students (Dan is portrayed by C.W. Hemingway and Stan is portrayed by Mark Clayman) responsible for the Bayside-Valley prank war in the episode "Save That Tiger" (1.16). After Zack and Slater steals the Valley mascot, Dan and Stan retaliated by kidnapping Screech(who wears the tiger costume and is the Bayside High mascot). However, Dan's misstep in trying to pose as the tiger mascot(along with Zack and Slater secretly putting fleas inside the costume) made Valley High lose the cheerleading competition, along with the prank war in the end. This earns him a severe reprimand by his principal. Mark Clayman also played Bayside student, "Moose."
Allison Fox
Allison Fox (portrayed by Hilary Hayes) poses as a reporter from "Chessboy" Magazine (in " Check Your Mate" [3.7]). After rejecting Zack's advances, she claims to be profiling Screech for the state chess championship against Valley. She is later revealed to be the girlfriend of Guy Guy, a student at Valley High with whom Zack had met a $300 bet on the match. After flirting with Screech, she steals the lucky beret given to him by Violet without which he thinks he cannot win the match. However, with a burst of good luck by Violet, Screech wins the match and Allison is exposed for her scam.
Marvin Nedick
Marvin Nedick (Gino De Mauro) is Valley's star wrestler and a major threat to AC Slater's undefeated wrestling record (in "Pinned to the Mat" [1.9]). After career day, Slater takes up cooking and quits the wrestling team, leaving Screech to wrestle Nedick. As Screech prepares to wrestle him, Slater appears. When asked why he changed his mind, Slater says that he burned his quiche. Slater quickly defeats Nedick in the wrestling match.
Miscellaneous characters
Lieutenant Chet Adams
Lieutenant Chet Adams (portrayed by Cylk Cozart, in the season two episode "Zack's War") is the head of Bayside's California Cadet Corps program. Lisa shows an infatuation towards Lt. Adams (even once inadvertently calling him "Lt. Hot") and joins the program in an attempt to gain his favor. He then reminds her that he's married. At the beginning of their training, Adams tells Zack that he can divide the cadets into teams, which prompts Zack to clump together all the "nerds" into one team and all the "jocks" onto another team, thinking all the jocks will be on his team. Adams replies by saying, "You get to pick the teams, but I get to pick the captains" and puts the nerds on Zack's team and the jocks on Slater's team. Jessie's feminist attitude clashes with Adams' military style, as she asks him to revise his motto "separating the men from the boys" to "separating the persons from the persons."
Frank and Laura Benton
Frank and Laura Benton (Stephen Mendel and Jennifer McComb) are a homeless father and daughter, respectively (in the 2-part season 3 episode "Home for Christmas"), who catches the eye of Zack and the gang around Christmas time. Laura, who works in a department store with Kelly, seems to be a tentative love interest for Zack; she is very shy around Zack about her homelessness. Zack, Slater and Screech get Frank to a hospital when he passes out at the mall from hunger, and then they find out he is Laura's father. Laura's boss accuses her of stealing a suit jacket that Kelly set aside to buy, so Frank would have an outfit that he could wear to job interviews. Later, Laura's boss apologizes and gives Laura the jacket for free. Eventually, the Morris family takes in the Bentons until they could “get back on their feet.”
Gem Diamond
Gem Diamond (Gary Beach) is a con artist (in "Class Rings" [4.12]) who sells Zack fake class rings, which turn the wearer's finger green. Desperate to replace the bunk rings with the genuine article, Zack and Slater make a plan in which Screech threatens Gem with karate unless he replaces the rings. Gem concedes, and the student body is satisfied with their new jewelry. He is last seen running out of the Max, being driven away by his mother in an attempt to escape from Screech's moves. Gem also appears in the California Dreams episode "Honest Sly" as a used car dealer.
Chief Henry
Chief Henry (portrayed by Dehl Berti) is an American Indian (in "Running Zack" [2.13]) with whom Zack bonds during his family history project. Zack initially tries to skip the project because he has a big track meet coming up, and later gives an insulting presentation that leads the teacher to refer him to the Chief. While they quickly become good friends, Henry dies suddenly, with Zack lamenting that they had hardly had time to get to know each other. Later, Henry's ghost appears to Zack, giving him a gift and encouraging him to run at the school track meet.
Kevin the Robot
Kevin the Robot (operated and voiced by Mike Lavelle) was a creation of Screech’s with artificial intelligence (appearing in 3 episodes during seasons 1 & 2), who lives in Screech’s room and usually dishes out advice and witty remarks. His appearances include him as Screech's assistant when Screech is doing a magic show; and as assistant hall monitor when Screech is nominated for the post by his classmates, to make up for forgetting Screech's birthday.
References
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