Dennis Haskins, best known for playing the beloved Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell, has died at 75. Haskins passed away on September 27, 2026, at an assisted living facility in Burbank, California, according to longtime friend and caretaker Kimberly Snow. His cause of death has not been disclosed. For generations of television viewers, Haskins was the familiar face of Bayside High, where his exasperated “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?” became one of his character’s signature moments. He continued portraying Mr. Belding through several Saved by the Bell installments until 2000. Beyond the role that made him famous, Haskins built a long career with appearances in shows and films including The Twilight Zone, Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. He was also deeply involved with music and entertainment before becoming a television star.

In the years before his death, however, Haskins increasingly stepped away from public life. Snow revealed that he had privately battled Parkinson’s disease for approximately eight years, along with other health concerns. Haskins reportedly chose to keep his condition private because he did not want attention or to explain his struggles publicly. Friends remembered him as warm, approachable, and devoted to his fans. He was particularly loved at Dimples Karaoke in Burbank, where he regularly performed and became a familiar presence. Haskins also returned to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2015, at age 65, to finally earn his theater degree after leaving college decades earlier. Following news of his death, tributes poured in from friends and former colleagues, remembering not only Mr. Belding but a talented entertainer who loved singing, meeting people, and making others smile.