Dennis Haskins, Our Beloved Mr. Belding, Dies at 75 After Private Parkinson's Battle

Dennis Haskins, the actor who turned Principal Richard Belding into one of the most recognizable characters on television, died Sunday, September 27, in Burbank, California, at the age of 75. His friend and caretaker, Kimberly Snow, confirmed to The New York Times that Haskins had been living with Parkinson’s Disease for eight years, a diagnosis he chose to keep out of the public eye. No official cause of death has been released, and his spokesperson described the loss as tragic.

Haskins played Mr. Belding in all 86 episodes of Saved by the Bell, becoming the show’s dependable adult presence while Zack, Kelly, Slater, and the rest of the Bayside crew schemed their way through high school. For multiple generations of viewers, he was the principal everyone wished they had, and his real-life legacy matches the character. Costars including Lark Voorhies and Mario Lopez have shared tributes since his death, with one friend of nearly 40 years writing that knowing him was one of the truest blessings of their life.

His quiet battle with Parkinson’s also raises awareness about a progressive nervous system disorder that affects millions of people and their families, many of whom navigate it privately, just as he did. Whether you grew up watching Bayside in real time or discovered it years later in reruns, Mr. Belding was family. What’s your favorite Mr. Belding moment? Tell us in the comments.