A beloved principal has left us. Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the hit sitcom Saved by the Bell, has passed away at age 75.
A beloved principal has left us. Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the hit sitcom Saved by the Bell, has passed away at age 75.
His agent, Jay Schacher, confirmed Dennis Haskins’ death. In a statement, Schacher said it’s a “tragic loss.” Haskins’ cause of death has not been released.
“Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more. He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans. He always had time for them, no matter what,” Jay Schachter said.
Born November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dennis Haskins found his passion for acting early on. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he wrote for the student newspaper and performed in campus productions.
According to his university biography, he helped found a community theater group called The Harlequins.
At first, however, Dennis Haskins entered another line of business. He worked in the music business as a music manager, agent, and concert promoter. His IMDb biography notes that some of his clients included Gregg Allman and Tom Jones.
But acting became Dennis Haskins’ main line of work, most notably through Saved by the Bell. He became a familiar face to millions of ’90s TV fans as Principal Richard Belding, a role he played across three different shows.
Dennis Haskins, Principal Belding in ‘Saved by the Bell,’ dies at 75
He first appeared as the beloved principal in the Disney Channel series Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1989. And when the show was reworked into NBC’s Saved by the Bell, the actor returned as Principal Belding.
Dennis Haskins, Saved by the Bell’s Principal Belding, dies at 75
Credit: Getty Images
Bayside High has lost its principal. Dennis Haskins, the actor who became a household name as Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, has died. He was 75.
The news was confirmed by his longtime agent, Jay Schachter, who described Haskins’ passing as a “tragic loss.” No cause of death has been made public.
“Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more. He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans. He always had time for them, no matter what,” Schachter said.
From Chattanooga to the stage
Haskins was born on November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was drawn to performing from a young age. While studying at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he contributed to the student newspaper and took part in campus theater productions.
His university biography also credits him with co-founding The Harlequins, a local community theater group.
Acting wasn’t his first career, though. Haskins initially made his living in the music industry, working as a manager, agent and concert promoter. According to his IMDb biography, Gregg Allman and Tom Jones were among the artists he worked with.
The role that defined him
Eventually, acting took over, and one role in particular made him famous. For a generation of ’90s viewers, Haskins was Principal Belding, a character he played across three separate series.
His first turn as the well-meaning principal came in 1989 on the Disney Channel’s Good Morning, Miss Bliss. When that show was revamped and moved to NBC as Saved by the Bell, Haskins came along with it.
He stayed with the series for its entire four-season run from 1989 to 1993, then stepped back into the role for Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which lasted seven seasons, from 1993 to 2000.
Saved by the Bell went on to become one of the defining sitcoms of the decade, following a tight-knit group of high schoolers as they dealt with friendship, dating and the ups and downs of growing up.
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Of all the moments fans cherish, few are as instantly recognizable as Belding’s signature greeting: “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”
Even years after the show ended, Haskins didn’t stay away from Bayside for good. In 2015, he joined former castmates Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen for a nostalgic reunion sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
A long career beyond Bayside
While Belding remained his most famous character, Haskins built a lengthy résumé in film and television.
He made appearances in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, Men of a Certain Age and Hot in Cleveland, and had a part in the film A Million Ways to Die in the West, along with many other credits.
Reflecting on their long relationship, Schachter said: “He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly. I’m heartbroken.”
Rest in peace, Dennis Haskins. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.
