Dennis Haskins, "Saved by the Bell" Principal, Dies at 75
Parkinson's disease was listed as the primary cause of death for the actor, who played Mr. Belding on the popular sitcom.
Actor Dennis Haskins, widely recognized for his role as Principal Richard Belding in the television series "Saved by the Bell," passed away at the age of 75. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Parkinson's disease was the primary cause of his death. Haskins died on September 27 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
The death certificate also indicated that Haskins had been managing other health conditions, including hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression.
Haskins, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, first portrayed Principal Belding in the Disney Channel series "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" from 1988 to 1989. The show was later reformatted as "Saved by the Bell" and aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993, followed by "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" from 1993 to 2000. He reprised the role for "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" in 1993 and "Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas" in 1994.
He appeared in a 2015 sketch on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" with several original "Saved by the Bell" co-stars, including Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, and Tiffani Amber Thiessen. Haskins also had roles in other television shows such as "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," "How I Met Your Mother," "New Girl," "Hot in Cleveland," and "Mad Men," as well as films like "A Million Ways to Die in the West" and "Trailer Park Shark."
Prior to his television career, Haskins attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played basketball and was involved in theater. He was a co-founder of the community theater group Harlequins and worked as a stage manager and playwright. He also organized events, including a 1973 performance by Ike and Tina Turner.
In his earlier career, Haskins made appearances on 1980s shows such as "Archie Bunker's Place," "The Greatest American Hero," "Simon & Simon," and "Magnum, P.I."
Haskins was remembered by fans and colleagues on social media, with many recalling his memorable portrayal of the high school principal. His agent, Jay Schachter, described Haskins as a "great person" who "absolutely LOVED his fans" and always made time for them.
Haskins is survived by his son, Dustin.