Dennis Haskins, ‘Saved by the Bell’ principal, dies at 75

Actor Dennis Haskins, best known as Principal Richard Belding on “Saved by the Bell,” has died at age 75.

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Known affectionately as “Mr. Belding” and “America’s Favorite Principal” by fans of the hit 1990s television show, he had many other roles throughout the years.

He made his network television debut in 1979 on “The Dukes of Hazzard.” Haskins also appeared on “Archie Bunker’s Place,” Magnum, P.I.,” “7th Heaven,” “Hot in Cleveland” and nearly 100 other shows as an actor and voiceover artist.

His death was confirmed by his longtime friend and caretaker and first reported by WTVC in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. His agent confirmed it to TMZ.

No cause of death has been announced. Haskins was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018.

Haskins was honored with The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Most Distinguished Alumni of 2000 award and has a regional high school academic decathlon named after him, The Dennis Haskins Open.

In recent years, Haskins traveled the country, visiting many Minor League Baseball stadiums in the summer, greeting fans, signing autographs and taking pictures.

Haskins first played Mr. Belding in “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” on the Disney Channel in 1988.

The show was renamed “Saved by the Bell” the following year and became a defining sitcom of the 1990s.

His greeting of “hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?” became one of the sitcom’s most recognizable running bits and remains associated with the character years after the show went off the air.

He is survived by his son, Dustin.