Dennis Haskins Dead at 75: How Mr. Belding Beat the Odds

Dennis Haskins, the actor who played beloved principal Richard Belding on “Saved by the Bell,” has died at 75, his agent told People on Monday, Sept. 28. No cause of death has been made public.

Agent Jay Schachter called it “a tragic loss” in a statement. NBC News reports that Schachter, head of film and television at Stewart Talent in New York City, said everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those who knew Haskins loved him even more.

Dennis Haskins’ Path From Chattanooga to Hollywood

Haskins grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and studied at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. According to the school’s biography, he wrote for the student paper, acted in campus plays and helped found the Harlequins theater group.

Before acting, Haskins worked as a music manager, agent and concert promoter, according to his IMDb bio. It lists Tom Jones and Gregg Allman among his clients.

Haskins made one-episode appearances in dozens of TV shows. His credits include a plant worker in a 1982 episode of “CHiPs,” multiple episodes of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Magnum, P.I.” in 1986 and “The Twilight Zone” in 1987.

Dennis Haskins’ Legacy as Principal Belding on Saved by the Bell

In a 2009 interview, Haskins said he fought for the part, going through seven auditions and not getting it at the network. He called the executive producer to ask how he did and was told he had done great.

Haskins said the producer later told him that call was why he decided to bring him back. “So I broke the cardinal rule,” he said, adding that he simply wanted one more shot at the job.

His first recurring role, “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” later became “Saved by the Bell,” which ran from 1989 to 1993. The series also starred Dustin Diamond, Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies.

Haskins played Principal Belding at Bayside High, where Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Zack Morris was the star athlete. He returned to the role in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” which aired from 1993 to 2000.

Haskins said the years passed in a flash, counting 11 years with the character from “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” to “The New Class.” “I mean, it was Saturday morning, but to me and to everybody else, it’s prime time,” he said.

Schachter said Haskins loved his fans and always had time for them. He described the actor as a client and dear friend for more than 20 years.