How Mario Lopez Became a ‘Hero’ to Mayan Lopez (Exclusive)

Mario Lopez and George Lopez‘s daughter, Mayan Lopez, go way back!

The actor and television host, 51, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview ahead of his guest-starring role on Lopez vs. Lopez that he has known Mayan, 28, since she was young. In fact, while he was a host on The X Factor, he showed up for her in a huge way that she has never forgotten.

“George and I have been friends for a long time,” Mario tells PEOPLE. “And I have known Mayan since she was a little girl.”

“I remember when I was hosting X Factor, I got her One Direction tickets and I was her hero for a long time because of that,” recalls Mario, who hosted the American version of The X Factor for the final two seasons in 2012 and 2013. “She always brings it up because she loved it.”

One Direction famously formed on the British version of the music competition show. The band, comprised of the late Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, appeared as a musical guest multiple times in season 2 of the U.S. version. 

Besides his bond with Mayan, Mario also has a longstanding friendship with her father George, 63. (Despite their shared surname, George and Mayan are not related to Mario.)

Their friendship led to his guest-starring role in the season 3 finale of Lopez vs. Lopez, airing Friday, Feb. 7. In the NBC sitcom, Mario plays Manny, George’s lawyer cousin and a fitness guru who assists the family after George’s mother locks them out of their house.

Mario says reuniting with George after making an appearance on his last show, The George Lopez Show, was very special.

“The fact that I got to come back and work with him again was fun,” the actor shares. “We’ve done a lot of stuff together throughout the years, so I’m happy to support.”

The Saved By the Bell alum also says he has “stayed in touch with the family” even in the years they weren’t working together.

Since his character is a fitness guru, Mario’s biceps are on full display in the upcoming Lopez vs. Lopez episode — but he notes, he did not go crazy with preparation ahead of the role.

“I’m always sort of training and doing stuff,” he explains, noting that he practices jujitsu in addition to maintaining a healthy fitness routine. “I just tried to have fun with the character and be a little over the top. So it was fun.”

Prior to Lopez vs. Lopez, Mario made recent appearances in Girls5Eva, Hacks, Mr. Throwback as versions of himself and starred in the holiday movie Once Upon a Christmas Wish with his wife Courtney. He also hosts Access Hollywood during the week.

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The season 3 finale of Lopez vs. Lopez airs Friday, Feb. 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and can be streamed the next day on Peacock.