Dennis Haskins, Principal On ‘Saved By The Bell,’ Dies At 75

Dennis Haskins, best known as Principal Richard Belding on ‘Saved by the Bell,’ has died at 75.
Haskins played Mr. Belding across several ‘Saved by the Bell’ series and movies from the late 1980s through 2000.
His official cause of death has not been released, though a longtime friend revealed that Haskins had privately battled Parkinson’s disease.

Dennis Haskins, the actor generations of television viewers knew as Principal Richard Belding on ‘Saved by the Bell,’ has died. He was 75. His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed his death on September 28, telling People that Haskins had been both a client and close friend for more than 20 years.

Haskins died on Sunday, September 27, according to a tribute shared by Dimples Karaoke Bar, a longtime Burbank hangout where the actor had become such a familiar face that some patrons thought he owned the place. No official cause of death has been announced. The tribute revealed that Haskins had become ill about eight years ago and had privately lived with Parkinson’s disease and other health concerns.

Dennis Haskins Became Bayside High’s Beloved Principal

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 18, 1950, Haskins began acting long before Bayside High opened its doors. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga notes that he was active in theater and student life there before pursuing a career in entertainment. His early television credits included ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and ‘Magnum, P.I.’ before he landed the role that would define his career.

Haskins first played Richard Belding on ‘Good Morning, Miss Bliss’ in 1988 and carried the character into ‘Saved by the Bell’ when the series was reworked the following year. As Bayside’s frequently exasperated but ultimately caring principal, Mr. Belding became a fixture alongside Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa and Screech. Haskins continued playing him on ‘Saved by the Bell: The New Class’ through 2000 and returned alongside several original cast members for a nostalgic ‘Tonight Show’ reunion sketch in 2015.

He Never Lost His Love for ‘Saved by the Bell’ Fans

Outside Bayside, Haskins amassed credits on shows including ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Hot in Cleveland,’ ‘New Girl’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,’ as well as the film ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West.’ But Mr. Belding remained the character most closely associated with him. His agent remembered Haskins as someone who “absolutely LOVED his fans” and said he always made time for the people who approached him.

That affection was reflected in the remembrance from Dimples, where Haskins spent years singing karaoke, meeting patrons and posing for photos. The bar remembered him not simply as the famous principal television audiences knew, but as a beloved part of its extended family. For viewers who spent Saturday mornings at Bayside High, Haskins leaves behind one of the most recognizable authority figures of 1980s and ’90s television — stern enough to chase Zack Morris down the hallway, but warm enough that generations of fans were always happy to see Mr. Belding walk through the door.