Saved by the Bell's Mr Belding star Dennis Haskins dies aged 75 as tributes pour in

Saved by the Bell star Dennis Haskins, best known to children of the 1990s as Mr Belding, has died aged 75 as tributes pour in for the actor. The actor's death was announced by his agent, Jay Schachter. Details of the death were not disclosed.

"It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more," Schachter told The Hollywood Reporter.

"He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans. He always had time for them, no matter what. He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly."

Haskins, who starred as Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell for more than a decade, was remembered by co-stars and fans for his role in the beloved teen sitcom.

Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle on the show, shared a touching tribute on Instagram, writing: "Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life, which makes losing him hurt so deeply.

"We shared so much history together from our earliest days, and through it all, he remained a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart.

"I am truly heartbroken by his passing and will miss his warmth and laughter more than words can say. Rest in peace Dennis, you will always hold a special place in my heart."

Fans took to the comment section of Voorhies' post to share their thoughts, with one writing: "Rip Mr. B, thanks for the laughs and being the coolest principal at Bayside."

"Rest in Peace Mr. B! I hope he got to reunite with Screech," commented another fan, while a third added: "So sad. We will never forget him. RIP. Mr. Belding was a special part of our lives."

One fan said: "This makes me so sad! Every morning before school I always watched Saved by the Bell! Rest in paradise Dennis aka Mr Belding!"

Haskins first played Principal Belding on Disney Channel’s Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was rebooted as NBC’s Saved by the Bell in 1989. He returned to the role in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which ran from 1993 to 2000.

His final appearance as Belding was in 2015, when he reunited with the original cast for a Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon sketch.

Among his other credits, Haskins appeared in A Million Ways to Die in the West, Mad Men, New Girl, Robot Chicken, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Reporter, Digital Spy

Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy. 

A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre. 

In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.