Former Saved by the Bell star appears unrecognisable as ‘sinister’ kidnapper in chilling drama
Mark-Paul Gosselaar gained fame portraying Zack Morris in the popular 90s sitcom "Saved by the Bell," but his recent television role as a menacing kidnapper showcases a transformation so remarkable that he is hardly recognisable.
Former ‘Saved by the Bell’ heartthrob Mark-Paul Gosselaar has taken on a drastically different appearance in his latest TV venture, portraying a “grotesque” kidnapper in a darker drama series.
For those who grew up in the 90s, Gosselaar is remembered for his portrayal of the effortlessly cool Zack Morris in the popular sitcom. However, in his current role in the newly premiered NBC series ‘Found’, the 49-year-old actor is barely recognisable from his days at Bayside High School. He now embodies the character of Sir, a captor confined by a woman he had abducted during her childhood.
Gosselaar has undergone a complete transformation for this sinister role, departing from his well-known image of floppy blonde highlighted hair to adopt tousled dark brown locks accompanied by a thick, greying beard. Describing Sir as “disgusting” and “grotesque,” the actor acknowledges the character’s truly despicable nature. Yet, when questioned if this is his darkest character portrayal to date, his response was unexpected.
In an interview with ComicBook, he remarked, “I believe that distinction belongs to Zack Morris.” Gosselaar labelled his ‘Saved by the Bell’ character as a “master manipulator” engaged in “nefarious activities.”
He remarked, “I believe my inclination towards roles like Sir stems from my early career portrayal of one of television’s most malevolent characters.”
However, his perspective on Sir isn’t positive either, as the actor characterised the role as “sick and twisted,” revealing that it draws inspiration from aspects of Ted Bundy. Mark-Paul elucidated that Nkechi Carroll, the creator and showrunner of ‘Found,’ recommended studying the notorious serial killer Bundy, notorious for his 1970s crimes involving kidnapping, murder, and rape of numerous women, as part of preparing for the role.
Describing Bundy, he mentioned to UPI, “He possessed charisma and an unassuming nature, traits far from what one would expect from someone involved in such heinous acts.”
“Humanlike” centres around Gabi Mosely, a survivor of kidnapping, who now operates a private firm dedicated to finding missing persons. However, Gabi, portrayed by Shameless star Shanola Hampton, harbours a secret.
In her basement, she keeps her former kidnapper, known as Sir, captive. She utilises his expertise as a kidnapper to aid in solving cases. Mark-Paul disclosed that even when their roles are reversed, with Sir becoming the kidnapping victim, he maintains the upper hand.
“I never feel like Sir isn’t in control; that’s how I’ve portrayed it,” he explained.
