Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Belding on Saved by the Bell, dies at 75

Passing in Burbank

Dennis Haskins died on the evening of September 27, 2026, at an assisted living facility in Burbank, California. His death at age 75 was confirmed by his friend and caretaker, Kimberly Snow, as well as his longtime agent, Jay Schachter. Haskins had lived in an assisted care facility since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years earlier in 2018. His talent representative of more than 20 years issued a statement reflecting on the actor's relationship with colleagues and supporters.

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. I'm heartbroken.

Defining role as Principal Belding

Haskins first played Principal Richard Belding in the 1988 Disney Channel series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, securing the part after seven separate auditions. When NBC retooled the production into Saved by the Bell in 1989, Haskins remained at the centre of the fictional Bayside High School. The sitcom followed students played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, and Elizabeth Berkley. Haskins appeared in nearly 90 episodes across the original run through 1993, delivering his signature line, "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?" to interrupt student antics. He carried the character into several spinoffs, including the 1992 television movie Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style, the 1993-1994 series Saved by the Bell: The College Years, the 1994 film Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which aired from 1993 to 2000.

Early life and four-decade career

Born on November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Dennis Button Haskins III and Veneta Marilyn Yarbrough, Haskins grew up alongside one brother. He attended high school locally before enrolling at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he wrote for the student newspaper, participated in student government, and co-founded the Harlequins community theater group. Haskins moved to California in the 1970s to enter the music industry before transitioning to screen acting with an appearance on The Dukes of Hazzard in 1981. Over a four-decade career spanning 101 screen credits, he appeared in television series such as The Greatest American Hero, Magnum, P.I., The West Wing, JAG, Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His final recorded screen credit came as a grandfather to 14 adopted children in the 2020 holiday film A Bennett Song Holiday.

Tributes and community legacy

Following the announcement of his death, former co-stars and local institutions offered public condolences. Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle throughout the Saved by the Bell franchise, posted a memorial tribute honoring their long-running professional relationship.

We shared so much history together from our earliest days, and through it all, he remained a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart. I am truly heartbroken by his passing and will miss his warmth and laughter more than words can say. Rest in peace Dennis, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

In Burbank, representatives from Dimples Karaoke, a former local establishment that closed roughly 11 years ago, remembered Haskins as a frequent patron who regularly sang for visitors and posed for photographs with television fans. Dustin Diamond, who starred alongside Haskins as Screech Powers and joined him in the spinoff series The New Class, died previously in 2021.