Dennis Haskins, Saved by the Bell’s Mr. Belding, Dies at 75

Dennis Haskins, the actor whose warm but frequently exasperated Principal Richard Belding became a defining part of “Saved by the Bell,” has died at 75. His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the death on Monday, September 28. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

In a statement shared with entertainment outlets, Schachter remembered Haskins as a generous performer who cared deeply about his audience. He said the actor always made time for fans and described him as both a longtime client and a close friend.

More than one generation of Bayside students

Haskins first played Belding in the 1988 Disney Channel series “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” the project that later evolved into NBC’s “Saved by the Bell.” When the better-known sitcom launched in 1989, he remained the adult authority figure at Bayside High opposite a young cast that included Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Dustin Diamond and Lark Voorhies.

The original show ended in 1993, but Haskins continued the role in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class.” He appeared throughout that spinoff’s seven-season run from 1993 to 2000, giving the franchise a consistent link between its changing groups of students. He later reunited with several original cast members for a 2015 sketch on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

A familiar face beyond Bayside

Born on November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Haskins also built a long list of guest and supporting credits outside the school hallways that made him famous. His television work included appearances on “Mad Men,” “New Girl,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Hot in Cleveland” and “The West Wing.” His film credits included “A Million Ways to Die in the West” and “Clemency.”

Still, Mr. Belding remained the performance audiences most closely associated with him. Haskins embraced that connection in interviews, reunions and public appearances, helping the character endure well beyond the sitcom’s original Saturday-morning run. His death closes a chapter for viewers who saw Bayside High’s principal as an essential part of the show’s comic rhythm and heart.