Dennis Haskins, best known for playing lovable principal Richard Belding on the NBC teen sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died at the age of 75.
The Legacy of Bayside High’s Principal Belding
Dennis Haskins became an instantly recognizable television presence as the well-meaning Bayside High administrator who spent four seasons comically exasperated by the schemes of Zack Morris and his classmates. Running from 1989 to 1993, the NBC teen sitcom anchored its comedic tension around Haskins walking into hallway trouble and delivering his signature line.
“Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”
Dennis Haskins, as Principal Richard Belding via USA TODAY
The role actually originated on an earlier Disney Channel series titled Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was reworked into Saved by the Bell for NBC the following year. Following the original series run, Haskins continued playing the character in the spinoff Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000, cementing a television tenure in the role that spanned more than a decade.
Agent and Co-Star Tributes Remember a Devoted Friend
Jay Schachter, Haskins’ agent of over 20 years, confirmed the actor’s death on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, noting that a cause of death was not immediately announced. Schachter remembered his client and friend as someone who profoundly cherished the people who watched his work.
“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.”
Jay Schachter, Agent via USA TODAY
Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle on the hit series, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram detailing a bond that lasted nearly four decades. She wrote that knowing Haskins for almost 40 years was one of the truest blessings of her life, praising his kind, gentle heart and enduring loyalty as a friend.
Behind the Scenes at Dimples Karaoke Bar and Beyond Hollywood
Away from the studio soundstages, Haskins maintained a presence at Dimples Karaoke Bar in Burbank, California. While a cause of death was not made public in official statements, the establishment shared in an Instagram post that Haskins suffered from Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he kept quiet for approximately eight years because he wanted to avoid drawing personal attention to his condition.
The karaoke bar served as a beloved second home where fans regularly mistook him for the owner because he spent so much time singing, meeting patrons, and taking selfies. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Haskins built an extensive television and film résumé beyond his signature Bayside High hallway.
An Extensive Career Across Television and Film
Before achieving sitcom fame, Haskins made his screen debut in The Dukes of Hazzard in 1976 and worked as a music manager and concert promoter for clients including Tom Jones and Gregg Allman. His versatile television career included guest appearances across multiple decades and genres.
- Appeared in television dramas including The Twilight Zone and Magnum, P.I.
- Played Cool Whip executive Phil Beachum in Mad Men.
- Made guest appearances on The West Wing, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, 7th Heaven, Hot in Cleveland, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
- Played a snake oil salesman in the feature film A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Academic Achievement and Final Onscreen Reunions
In 2015, Haskins added a formal academic milestone to his artistic achievements by graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga at age 65 with a Bachelor of Arts in theater. That same year, he reunited with his former castmates Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez, and Elizabeth Berkley for a nostalgic sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Haskins is survived by his son, Dustin Haskins. The entertainment community’s outpouring follows the loss of fellow cast member Dustin Diamond, who played Samuel Screech Powers and passed away from cancer in 2021 at age 44.