LOS ANGELES, United States – Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the television franchise “Saved by the Bell,” has died at 75, his longtime agent confirmed.
Haskins’ agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the death and described the actor as a beloved figure to fans and a longtime friend. Schachter said Haskins had always made time for his supporters.
The cause of death has not been publicly released.
A defining role as Mr. Belding
Haskins became closely associated with Principal Belding, the administrator of fictional Bayside High School who frequently found himself trying to keep Zack Morris and his classmates under control.
He first played Belding in the Disney Channel series “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” in 1989. The series was subsequently reworked as NBC’s “Saved by the Bell,” which premiered later that year. Haskins continued in the role throughout the original series’ four-season run from 1989 to 1993.
He later reprised the character in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” which ran from 1993 to 2000.
Belding became one of the show’s recurring adult figures, with his exasperated attempts to discipline the students becoming part of the character’s identity. His signature line included the repeated question, “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”
Career beyond Bayside High
Haskins worked extensively in television and film outside the “Saved by the Bell” franchise.
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His earlier television appearances included roles in “The Twilight Zone” and “Magnum, P.I.” He subsequently appeared in programs including “Mad Men,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “New Girl,” “Hot in Cleveland” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” His film credits included “A Million Ways to Die in the West.”
Haskins was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The university has documented his involvement in student activities, theater and campus organizations before his acting career.
Tributes follow his death
Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle on “Saved by the Bell,” paid tribute to Haskins following news of his death. She recalled their decades-long association and described him as a close friend with a kind and gentle nature.
The Burbank karaoke establishment Dimples, where Haskins was a longtime regular, also posted a tribute describing his affection for the venue and its patrons.
Haskins’ death brings to an end the career of an actor whose most recognizable character remained closely identified with one of the most prominent American teen sitcom franchises of the late 1980s and 1990s.
Reporting Credit: Haskins’ agent Jay Schachter; University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; NBC/NBCUniversal archival information and production records where available.
