Dennis Haskins, the actor generations of television fans knew and loved as Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, is dead at 75. His longtime agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the news on Monday, September 28. He called it “a tragic loss” and also remembered a client who never turned away a fan.
“Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more,” Schachter said. “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.”
Dennis Haskins Dead at 75: What We Know So Far
Haskins died on September 27, 2026, in Burbank, California. However, no official cause of death has been announced yet. His agent shared no medical details. For now, the family has asked for privacy while arrangements are made.
A longtime caretaker told Chattanooga’s WTVC that the actor faced a long illness. In addition, a karaoke bar he frequented claimed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. That claim was reported by NME but remains unconfirmed. His family and representatives have not verified it.
Chattanooga anchor David Carroll also reported that Haskins cut off contact with hometown friends in recent years. Still, the news adds a somber note to a career defined by warmth.
From Chattanooga to Bayside High
Haskins was born on November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He then attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. There he played basketball, joined the cheerleading squad, and helped found the Harlequins theater group. He also served as the student government entertainment chairman.
Before acting, he competed on the TV game show Scrabble. His screen debut came in 1979 on The Dukes of Hazzard. From there, he built a steady career that topped 100 credits, per his Wikipedia filmography.
Saved by the Bell: The Role That Defined a Generation
Haskins first played Principal Richard Belding on Disney Channel’s Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1988. NBC then retooled the show as Saved by the Bell a year later. He was the only adult in the regular cast. He stayed in the principal’s office for the full original run, from 1989 to 1993.
The series became a defining teen sitcom of the 1990s. Belding’s exasperated catchphrase — “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?” — became one of TV’s most quoted lines. Next, Haskins carried the role into Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993–2000). He also starred in two TV movies, Hawaiian Style (1992) and Wedding in Las Vegas (1994).
Mr. Belding’s Legacy: Catchphrases, Cameos and Cult Status
Few character actors stayed as busy after their signature role. For example, his later credits include Magnum, P.I., The West Wing, Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Hot in Cleveland, 7th Heaven, JAG, The Practice and Victorious. In 2014, he played a snake oil salesman in Seth MacFarlane’s A Million Ways to Die in the West.
He leaned into his cult following too. In January 2012, he sat ringside at WWE’s Monday Night Raw after a fan petition backed him for general manager. In 2009, he released a karaoke covers album. In 2017, he appeared in music videos for Dirty Heads and Khalid. In 2015, he reunited with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Thiessen for a Tonight Show sketch. He skipped the 2020 Saved by the Bell reboot.
“He Absolutely Loved His Fans”: Tributes Pour In
News of the Dennis Haskins death spread on Monday night. Meanwhile, fans flooded social media with clips of his best Belding moments. Formal tributes from co-stars were still arriving at the time of publication.
Just last month, Mario Lopez reposted a cast photo on X. He marked the 37th anniversary of the show’s August 20, 1989 debut. Haskins is the second original Bayside cast member to pass away. Dustin Diamond, who played Screech Powers, died of cancer in 2021 at 44.
Memorial details have not been announced yet. Still, the outpouring already says it all. For millions of ’90s kids, the principal’s office will never feel the same. Hey, hey, hey — thanks for everything, Mr. Belding.
Related reading: our living tributes to the celebrities we lost in September 2026 and the stars we lost across all of 2026. For more television news, see our coverage of the SNL Season 52 premiere.