Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for his role as Principal Richard Belding in the 1990s high school comedy “Saved by the Bell,” died Sunday night. He was 75 years old.
Haskins’ friend and longtime caregiver, Kimberly Snow, confirmed the actor’s death. The cause of death is unknown, but Haskins had quietly battled Parkinson’s disease and was candid about his other health problems. The actor died at a Burbank assisted living facility around 11 p.m., according to Snow.
Snow, the former manager of the shuttered Dimples Karaoke in Burbank, shared the news of the actor’s death on Instagram, writing that Haskins was a fixture at the restaurant, so much so that many customers thought he was the owner.
“Many people thought he owned it, but he didn’t,” the tribute read. “He loved this place and the people there. He enjoyed singing for people, meeting them and taking selfies with his fans. Dimples closed about 11 years ago and people still consider it his beloved ‘second home.’ He was known to most as Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell, but to us he was so much more than that.”
“He got sick about eight years ago,” the post continued. “He had kept quiet about his struggle with Parkinson’s disease, among other health issues, because he didn’t want to attract attention. He didn’t want to have to tell people. ‘What should I say?’ he would say. So I respected his wishes and stayed quiet and helped him on his journey to the next chapter of his life.
“Late last night, this journey ended for him. He is now at peace and probably entertaining people in the sky. Know that if you have tried to reach him over the last few years, I have read your messages to him and listened to you.”
Haskins played the earnest and lovable Mr. Belding in the “Saved by the Bell” series for 12 years, from 1988 to 2000. As recently as 2015, he reprized the role in a skit on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” alongside Bayside High School alum Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen.
Haskins was born on November 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to parents Dennis Button Haskins IV and Veneta Marilyn Yarbrough. One of three boys, he attended Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga and later the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he began acting and made his big screen debut in 1981, playing a worker in “Archie Bunker’s Place.” He acted regularly throughout the ’80s, appearing on television shows “Magnum PI” and “The Dukes of Hazzard” and finding his way to the role that would make him America’s favorite principal.
He portrayed Mr. Belding in seven different TV series, including “Good Morning, Miss Happiness”, “Saved by the Bell”, “Saved by the Bell: College Years”, “Saved by the Bell: New Class”, “Rerun Show”, “Robot Chicken” and “Victorious”.
“This is a tragic loss,” Jay Schachter, president of film and television at Stewart Talent in New York City, told NBC.
“Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who knew Dennis loved him even more,” Schachter said. “He was a great person and he loved his fans, so he absolutely LOVED them.”