Dennis Haskins, Saved by the Bell’s Mr Belding, dies at 75
His agent confirmed the news to ABC News, closing the story of a teen-sitcom principal who played the same role across three series and more than a decade of American television.
By John Christian Mmaduabuchi, Chief Editor
· · 3 min read
- Dennis Haskins, Principal Richard Belding on NBC's Saved by the Bell from 1989 to 1993, has died aged 75.
- His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the death to ABC News; he died in Burbank, California, on Sunday 27 September, and no cause of death has been made public.
- Haskins kept the role through Saved by the Bell: The New Class until 2000 and reprised it on Jimmy Fallon's show in 2015.
The gist in 30 seconds
- Dennis Haskins, Principal Richard Belding on NBC's Saved by the Bell from 1989 to 1993, has died aged 75.
- His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the death to ABC News; he died in Burbank, California, on Sunday 27 September, and no cause of death has been made public.
- Haskins kept the role through Saved by the Bell: The New Class until 2000 and reprised it on Jimmy Fallon's show in 2015.
Updated 10:07 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: Haskins died in Burbank, California, on Sunday 27 September, his friend and caretaker Kimberly Snow told the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.
Dennis Haskins, the actor who played Principal Richard Belding on the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died aged 75. His agent confirmed the death to ABC News late on Monday, US time.
Belding was the grown-up at the heart of a show that shaped a generation’s picture of American high school. Few television principals have been remembered as fondly.
His agent, Jay Schachter, paid tribute in a statement to ABC News: “It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more.”
He died in Burbank, California, on the night of Sunday 27 September, his friend and longtime caretaker, Kimberly Snow, told the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. Snow said he had lived with Parkinson’s disease, but no cause of death has been made public. NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga, his hometown, reported the news on Monday evening, citing a friend who had been caring for him.
Snow’s tribute, shared on Instagram, said: “He is now at peace and is probably entertaining the people in the sky.”
Who was Dennis Haskins?
Haskins was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 18 November 1950. He first played Belding on the Disney Channel series Good Morning, Miss Bliss before the character carried over to NBC’s Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1989 to 1993.
He stayed in the role for Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which ran until 2000, according to ABC News. That made him the one constant across three shows as casts of students came and went. NewsChannel 9 noted that he was often billed as America’s favourite principal, a title few would dispute.
Away from the school corridors, he picked up roles in Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He also appeared in the 2014 comedy film A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Why did Mr Belding matter to fans?
Belding was the well-meaning principal whose pupils always seemed a step ahead of him. The joke barely changed from episode to episode, and that was the point: he was the adult viewers could laugh at and still like.
His last outing as Belding came in 2015, when he joined former castmates Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, ABC7 reported.
Off screen, he loved a microphone. He released a karaoke album in 2009, and his hometown station described him as a regular at a local karaoke venue, whose account shared news of his death.
What happens next
By Wednesday morning, neither his representatives nor his family had announced a cause of death or memorial plans in the reports available. Any further details are likely to come from his agent or family.
The ABC News report carries his agent’s full statement.
For years his students ran rings around Mr Belding. This week, it is his fans who are lost for words.
Sources
We checked this story against these sources. How we check
- ABC News: Dennis Haskins, Principal Belding in 'Saved By The Bell,' dies at 75 (28 Sep 2026, 11:35pm ET)
- ABC7 Los Angeles: Dennis Haskins dies: Actor who portrayed Principal Richard Belding on 'Saved by the Bell' was 75 (29 Sep 2026)
- NewsChannel 9 (WTVC, Chattanooga): Chattanooga native Dennis Haskins, 'Saved by the Bell' principal, dies at 75 (28 Sep 2026, 8:55pm ET, updated 10:30pm ET)
- Wikipedia: Dennis Haskins (background: birth date, New Class, film credits, 2009 karaoke album)
- Los Angeles Times (via The Spokesman-Review): Dennis Haskins, known for playing beloved principal on 'Saved by the Bell,' dies at 75 (29 Sep 2026)
- WFTV (citing The New York Times): 'Saved by the Bell' star Dennis Haskins dies at 75 (29 Sep 2026)
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John Christian Mmaduabuchi is a Nigerian filmmaker, creative director, and media professional with extensive experience in digital storytelling, visual journalism, and contemporary media. His Journalism interests span Nigerian and African current affairs, entertainment, culture, technology, lifestyle, media, and the people shaping public conversation. With a background in film direction and documentary production, he brings a strong visual and narrative perspective to editorial work, with particular attention to context, clarity, and compelling storytelling. John is also a creative entrepreneur focused on storytelling, entertainment, culture, and digital content. His professional experience across directing, cinematography, editing, media strategy, and emerging AI technologies gives him a broad understanding of how stories are created, distributed, and consumed in the digital age. At GistMatrix, John contributes to the development and presentation of timely, engaging, and relevant stories for a contemporary audience. His approach to editorial work is grounded in accuracy, context, responsible storytelling, and a commitment to covering stories that matter.
