Dennis Haskins, Saved by the Bell Actor, Dies at 75

Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, has died at 75, according to his longtime agent, Jay Schachter. The reports did not disclose a cause of death, and both trace the announcement to Schachter rather than to independent confirmation. Schachter described Haskins’s death as a tragic loss and remembered him as a person who deeply valued his fans. In a statement reported by one account, Schachter said he had represented Haskins and been his friend for more than 20 years, adding that Haskins made time for fans. The reports do not provide further details about when or where Haskins died. Haskins became widely known as Mr. Belding, the principal of the fictional Bayside High School. He first played the character on Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which preceded Saved by the Bell. He continued in the role on the original series and later installments, including Saved by the Bell: The New Class. His association with the character remained part of his public career decades after the show’s original run.