“Saved by the Bell” Cast Mourns Death of Dennis Haskins
Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez, and Lark Voorhies shared emotional tributes following the passing of the actor who played Principal Mr. Belding.
The cast of the beloved sitcom “Saved by the Bell” is mourning the loss of Dennis Haskins, who portrayed the iconic Principal Mr. Belding. Haskins passed away at the age of 75, prompting heartfelt tributes from his former co-stars.
Tiffani Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, released a statement expressing her grief. "Dennis Haskins was a steady presence in my teenage years, the kind of figure who kept us in line while making sure we knew he was in our corner," she said. Thiessen added that she will “always remember [Haskins’] kindness and be grateful for the memories we as a cast got to share with him,” concluding with, “RIP Mr. B.”
Lark Voorhies, who starred as Lisa Turtle, took to Instagram to share her devastation. "Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life, which makes losing him hurt so deeply," Voorhies wrote. She described Haskins as “a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart,” and said his “warmth and laughter” would be missed. She concluded her tribute by saying, “Rest in peace Dennis, you will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Mario Lopez, who portrayed A.C. Slater, also shared his sorrow on X, formerly Twitter. "He played the principal, but Dennis was the biggest kid on the SBTB set," Lopez said. "If you knew him, you loved him—and if there was karaoke, you knew Dennis was getting on that mic!" He expressed gratitude for "the laughs, the memories, and the friendship we shared all these years," and fondly remembered Haskins as a part of their "Bayside family."
Haskins was a staple on “Saved by the Bell,” playing “America’s Favorite Principal” from 1988 to 2000. His tenure spanned the predecessor series, “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” and the “New Class” reboot.
He starred alongside Thiessen, Lopez, Voorhies, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Dustin Diamond, and Ed Alonzo in the NBC sitcom, which aired from 1989 to 1993.
Haskins’ death was confirmed by his longtime friend and caretaker. His agent, Jay Schachter, told The Hollywood Reporter that it was a "tragic loss." Schachter stated, "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."
Sources indicate that Haskins had been battling Parkinson's disease for the past eight years. His final public appearance was at an NBA game in 2018.
The cast of "Saved by the Bell" paid tribute to Dennis Haskins after his death at age 75.