‘Saved By The Bell’ Star Dennis Haskins Dead At 75

Sad news arrived about Dennis Haskins, the actor who brought Principal Richard Belding to life on the beloved sitcom Saved by the Bell. He passed away at the age of 75. Read on for more details.

News of His Death

According to TMZ, his agent Jay Schachter confirmed the news in late September. Jay Schachter told the outlet, “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.”

The agent added, “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.”

News Channel 9 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, first broke the report of his death. The article cited an Instagram post by Dimples Karaoke that noted he had Parkinson’s, but his cause of death is unknown at this time.

The post said, “About eight years ago, he became ill. He had been silent about his fight with Parkinson’s, among other health concerns, because he did not want the attention.”

TVLine noted he was born in Chattanooga on November 18, 1950, and listed a long line of his achievements.

They included a line of ’70s and ’80s series including “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “The Fall Guy,” “CHiPs,” “Knots Landing,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “The Greatest American Hero.”

Career and Legacy

Dennis Haskins played Principal Richard Belding across different series and projects over the years. Viewers remember his iconic line, “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”

He started playing the character on Good Morning, Miss Bliss before it turned into Saved by the Bell. He stuck around for Saved by the Bell: The College Years and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

Outside of television, he loved his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which gave him the Most Distinguished Alumni award.

He also spent time supporting troops on USO tours. His final public appearance as Mr. Belding happened in 2015 when he joined his old co-stars for a sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Fans React

When ABC7 Los Angeles shared the news on Instagram, plenty of fans went to talk about Dennis Haskins. One reader said, “RIP to the big bopper!! Thanks for the laughs and good childhood memories.”

Here are a few more responses from the discussion:

• “I met him he was a really sweet man.”
• “The Big Bopper was a known Burbank Karaoke legend.. Say Hi to Casey Casem for us…..”
• “My condolences to his family life is short.”
• “Remember when he beat up screech 😂 RIP.”
• “Rest in Peace Legend thank you for a Great Childhood.”

Your thoughts? Join the discussion and then come back for more celebrity news and updates.