Dennis Haskins, the actor who spent more than a decade playing Principal Richard Belding in the “Saved by the Bell” franchise, has died at 75. His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the death and called it a tragic loss. No details on the cause or circumstances have been released.
Haskins originated the role on “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” a show that lasted just one season before it was reworked into “Saved by the Bell.” When the series became a Saturday-morning staple, Belding came with it. Haskins kept playing the character on “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” making him one of the few actors present for nearly the entire run of the franchise.
Schachter remembered Haskins as a great person who loved his fans and always made time for them. For Suncoast viewers who grew up on the show or watched it with their kids, Belding remains one of television’s most recognizable authority figures, the principal who clashed with Zack Morris and quietly rooted for his students all the same.
What’s your favorite Mr. Belding moment? Let us know in the comments.
