Actor Dennis Haskins, known for playing Mr. Belding, dies at 75

Dennis Haskins, a Chattanooga native who gained fame as Principal Richard Belding on the 1990s sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” died at 75, his friend and caretaker said. The cause of death has not been officially released, but Haskins had been living with Parkinson’s disease for several years.

An Instagram post from Dimples Karaoke, a venue where Haskers was a regular, noted that he was a frequent presence there and enjoyed interacting with patrons and taking selfies. The post added that he had kept his health struggles private, saying he often responded, “What do I even say?” when asked about his condition.

Born on Nov. 18, 1950, Haskins attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Notre Dame High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). While at UTC he wrote for the student newspaper, performed with the Drama Club and Harlequins theater group, served as student government entertainment chairman, and was a member of the Blue Key Honor Fraternity and the Raven’s Society. He helped organize events such as a 1973 concert featuring Ike and Tina Turner and a charity basketball game that raised scholarships for local children and police officers.

Haskins first portrayed Mr. Belding in the Disney Channel series “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” in 1988; the show was rebranded as “Saved by the Bell” the following year. After the series ended, he appeared in various film and television projects, including “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “A Million Ways to Die in the West.”