Dennis Haskins, 'Saved by the Bell' Principal Belding, Dies at 75

Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the 1980s and 1990s sitcom "Saved by the Bell," died on Sunday night at age 75. His friend and longtime caretaker, Kimberly Snow, confirmed his death around 11 p.m. at a Burbank assisted living facility. His agent, Jay Schachter, announced the news to media outlets but did not disclose a specific cause of death.

Haskins first played Mr. Belding on the Disney Channel's "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" in 1988. The show was retooled after one season and became "Saved by the Bell" on NBC, running from 1989 to 1993, and establishing Haskins' signature catchphrase: "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?" He reprised the character across multiple spinoffs, including "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" and "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" (1993–2000), appearing as Principal Belding for a total of 12 years. As recently as February 2015, he reunited with cast members Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, and Tiffani Thiessen for a sketch on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 18, 1950, Haskins attended Notre Dame High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was active in drama and student government. He made his onscreen debut in 1981 and appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career, including "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Mad Men," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "A Million Ways to Die in the West." In 2000, he received the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Most Distinguished Alumni Award.

Haskins had quietly battled Parkinson's disease in recent years and chose to keep his health struggles private. According to Snow's statement posted on social media, Haskins was a beloved regular at Dimples Karaoke in Burbank, which closed about 11 years prior to his death. Snow described how Haskins continued to engage with fans at the venue, enjoying singing and taking selfies despite his illness. Schachter described Haskins as "a great person" who "absolutely LOVED his fans" and "always had time for them, no matter what," noting their professional relationship spanned over 20 years.

Haskins is survived by his son, Dustin. His death comes five years after Dustin Diamond, who played Samuel "Screech" Powers on "Saved by the Bell," died in 2021 from lung cancer at age 44.