Saved By The Bell actor Dennis Haskins famed for playing Mr Belding dies age 75
Tributes have been made to the beloved starSaved By The Bell actor Dennis Haskins has died aged 75.
Dennis is best known for playing beloved high school principal Mr Belding in the smash hit US show.
The sad news was confirmed by his agent and tributes are now flooding in from co-stars and fans.
Saved By The Bell actor Dennis Haskins dead
Acting agent, Jay Schachter, announced Dennis’ death in the early hours of Tuesday morning (September 29, 2026). Releasing a statement, he described his passing as a “tragic loss”.
Jay said: “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. He always had time for them, no matter what.”
Jay added: “He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly.”
Jay did not confirm Dennis’ cause of death. However, the owners of his favourite bar has said in an Instagram post that he had Parkinson’s disease.
Dimples Karaoke, located in California, said: “He had been silent about his fight with Parkinson’s, among other health concerns, because he did not want the attention.
“He did not want to have to tell people. He would say, ‘What do I even say?’ So I respected his wishes and stayed quiet, and I helped him through his journey into the next chapter of his life.
“What a cool and amazing life he had. Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten.”
Tributes pour in for Mr Belding star Dennis Haskins
Saved By The Bell first aired in 1989 and ran until 1993. The show followed a group of teenage friends and their principal, Mr Belding, at Bayside High.
Dennis, from Tennessee, reprised the role for spin-off series Saved By The Bell: The New Class. He also made guest appearances in Saved By The Bell: The College Years and Saved By The Bell: The Wedding.
The character was famed for his line: “Hey, hey, hey. What is going on here?!”
SBTB was hugely popular in the US but also in the UK, airing on Channel 4 on the weekends and during school holidays.
Mario Lopez, who played AC Slater in the show, has posted a picture of himself and Dennis on Instagram. The caption read: “RIP Dennis Haskins. Everyone’s favourite principal” He also added a tearful emoji.
His co-stars, including Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack Morris) and Tiffani Thiessen (Kelly Kapowski), are yet to react to the news publicly.
Fans have been busy paying tribute on X, however.
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‘We’ll never forget you’
One wrote: “Rest in Peace, Dennis Haskins. I knew Mr. Belding a lot more than I knew my own principal. Thank you for all the wonderful memories at Bayside.”
Another added: “RIP Mr. Belding! You held a special place in my life growing up ❤️ Always setting an example of how to be a good person. Most of us may never have met you, but you were a superior role model to us. Rest easy Dennis!”
And a third said: “I met Dennis Haskins at WonderCon in 2014. He was very kind. RIP, Mr. Belding. We’ll never forget you.”
Dennis also starred in shows including The West Wing, Mad Men and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia during his career. He leaves behind one son.
