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Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding in the hit 1990s sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell,’ has died at the age of 75.
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Haskins, who became popularly known as “Mr. Belding,” first portrayed the character in Disney Channel’s Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1988 before the programme was reworked as Saved by the Bell on NBC a year later.
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Haskins built a television and film career spanning decades, appearing in productions including The Dukes of Hazzard, Archie Bunker’s Place, Magnum, P.I., 7th Heaven, Hot in Cleveland, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and New Girl.
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The Chattanooga-born actor was also closely connected to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was honoured as its Most Distinguished Alumni in 2000.
September 29, (THEWILL) – American actor Dennis Haskins, who achieved international recognition for his portrayal of Principal Richard Belding in the popular television sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell’, has died at the age of 75.
“It’s a tragic loss. 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.
“He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly,” his agent Jay Schachter told told TMZ.
No official cause of death has been announced., but THEWILL however gathered that the actor suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
Haskins was born in Chattanooga on November 18, 1950, and developed an interest in theatre and entertainment during his years at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).
He became widely recognised by television audiences after taking on the role of Mr. Richard Belding, the principal of Bayside High School, in Good Morning, Miss Bliss on the Disney Channel in 1988.
The series was subsequently reworked and renamed Saved by the Bell when it moved to NBC in 1989.
The sitcom, centred on a group of teenagers navigating school, friendship, relationships and adolescence, became one of the defining American television comedies of the 1990s.
Haskins was the principal adult character in the original teenage ensemble and remained in the role as the franchise expanded into spin-offs. His portrayal of the stern but often caring school principal made him a familiar figure to a generation of viewers.
His recurring line, “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”, became closely associated with the character and remained one of the sitcom’s memorable running gags.
Haskins continued to reprise the role of Mr. Belding in subsequent Saved by the Bell productions and made appearances as the character in other television projects, including Robot Chicken, Victorious and The Tonight Show.
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Career Beyond ‘Saved by the Bell’
Although Mr. Belding became Haskins’ defining television role, his acting career stretched well beyond the sitcom.
He made his network television debut in 1979 in The Dukes of Hazzard and subsequently appeared in a wide range of television programmes, including Archie Bunker’s Place, Magnum, P.I., 7th Heaven and Hot in Cleveland.
He also featured in later productions such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, New Girl and A Million Ways to Die in the West, among numerous other film and television projects.
Haskins’ work included both acting and voice-over roles, with his career spanning several decades.
In the years after Saved by the Bell, he remained closely connected to the show’s large and enduring fan base.
He regularly travelled to Minor League Baseball stadiums during the summer, where he met fans, signed autographs, and posed for photographs.
His continued public appearances helped maintain his connection with viewers who had grown up watching him as Mr. Belding.
Legacy
Haskins’ death marks the passing of an actor whose most famous character became deeply embedded in American television culture.
While his career included dozens of television and film appearances, his portrayal of Mr. Belding remained the role most closely associated with him, particularly among audiences who watched Saved by the Bell during its original run.
Haskins once reflected on the lasting reach of the programme, noting that it began as a Saturday morning show before eventually reaching audiences in more than 87 countries.
The actor took pride in having been part of the series from its beginning through its conclusion, and his performance as Principal Belding continued to define his relationship with fans long after the original sitcom ended.
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