“Saved by the Bell” Star Dennis Haskins Dies at 75 After Privately Battling Parkinson’s Disease

The Actor Beloved as Principal Richard Belding Spent His Final Years Away From the Spotlight, While Friends Made Sure He Knew His Fans Had Not Forgotten Him

For millions of television viewers, Dennis Haskins will always be Principal Richard Belding, the familiar face who tried to keep order at Bayside High on Saved by the Bell.

But during the final years of his life, Haskins largely disappeared from public view.

Behind that absence was a deeply personal struggle that he had chosen not to publicly discuss.

Haskins had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease approximately eight years before his death and had been living in an assisted living facility. His longtime friend and caretaker Kimberly Snow said he preferred to keep his illness private. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”0″}

Haskins died in Burbank, California, on September 27, 2026. He was 75 years old. His official cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”1″}

He Chose to Keep His Health Struggles Private

Haskins had spent decades entertaining audiences, but when his health began declining, he did not seek public attention or sympathy.

Reports following his death revealed that he had quietly lived with Parkinson’s disease for years. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”2″}

Snow, who had known Haskins for years, said his decision to remain silent about his condition was intentional.

It offered an explanation for why an actor who had once been so enthusiastic about meeting fans had largely vanished from public life.

Even as Haskins became less visible, however, people continued trying to reach him.

And those messages were not necessarily lost.

His Friends Made Sure He Knew Fans Still Remembered Him

Snow revealed that when fans attempted to contact Haskins during his later years, she would read their messages to him.

It meant that even while living away from the spotlight, he could still hear from people who remembered him as Mr. Belding and continued to care about him.

That connection was especially fitting for an actor whose agent said he had always made time for his fans.

After announcing Haskins’ death, longtime agent Jay Schachter remembered him as someone who deeply appreciated the people who had supported his career.

Schachter said Haskins “absolutely LOVED his fans” and always made time for them. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”3″}

Before His Health Declined, One Place Felt Like a Second Home

A significant part of Haskins’ life away from television revolved around Dimples, a well-known karaoke bar in Burbank.

Haskins became such a familiar presence there that some patrons reportedly assumed he owned the establishment.

He did not.

He simply loved spending time there.

For Haskins, the attraction was not about being treated as a television celebrity.

He enjoyed singing, meeting people and taking photographs with fans.

It became a place where the actor famous for playing a television principal could simply enjoy himself among friends.

Mr. Belding Made Him Famous

Haskins’ connection with audiences began decades earlier.

He first played Richard Belding in Good Morning, Miss Bliss before becoming Principal Belding on Saved by the Bell.

The NBC sitcom ran from 1989 to 1993 and became a defining television series for a generation of young viewers. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”4″}

Haskins then continued playing Belding on Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which ran from 1993 until 2000. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”5″}

His character was supposed to be the authority figure attempting to control the students of Bayside High.

But Belding was more than an obstacle for the teenagers.

He frequently became their mentor and, despite their attempts to outsmart him, remained an important part of their lives.

For Haskins, the character became the role with which he would forever be associated.

His Career Extended Far Beyond Bayside High

Before becoming Mr. Belding, Haskins had already built experience in entertainment.

He worked as a music manager, agent and concert promoter before establishing himself as an actor. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”6″}

His television work included appearances in shows such as Magnum, P.I. and The Twilight Zone.

After Saved by the Bell, he continued appearing in television programs and films, including It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Hot in Cleveland. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”7″}

Yet regardless of how many other characters he played, audiences continued recognizing him as the principal of Bayside High.

Haskins embraced that connection rather than running from it.

His Former Co-Stars Remembered the Man Behind the Character

Following news of his death, members of the Saved by the Bell family shared memories of Haskins.

Mario Lopez remembered his former co-star as someone with an energetic personality, describing him as the “biggest kid” on the set. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”8″}

Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, also paid tribute to Haskins and reflected on a friendship that had lasted for decades. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”9″}

Those tributes reflected a side of Haskins that viewers could not necessarily see through the television screen.

Behind Principal Belding was a man remembered by colleagues for his warmth, loyalty and enthusiasm.

A Small Detail in His Final Days Carried Special Meaning

After Haskins died, Snow noticed something about the room where he had spent his final days.

She discovered that the room had been connected to a charitable contribution from the Mario Lopez Golf Classic.

The coincidence brought her some comfort after saying goodbye to her longtime friend.

Lopez had spent years playing A.C. Slater alongside Haskins on Saved by the Bell.

Decades later, his name was unexpectedly connected with the place where Haskins spent the final chapter of his life.

His Cause of Death Has Not Been Announced

Although Haskins had been living with Parkinson’s disease, authorities and his representatives had not publicly announced an official cause of death in the immediate reports following his passing. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”10″}

That distinction is important because his Parkinson’s diagnosis does not by itself establish what caused his death.

What has been confirmed is that the illness had been part of his life for years and that he had chosen not to discuss it publicly.

Instead, Haskins spent those years largely outside the spotlight that had surrounded him during the height of his television career.

Fans Never Really Forgot Mr. Belding

For viewers who grew up watching Saved by the Bell, Haskins became inseparable from memories of Bayside High.

His character’s familiar presence helped define a television series that continued finding audiences long after its original episodes ended.

But the tributes following Haskins’ death focused on something beyond the role.

His agent remembered how much he loved meeting fans.

His former co-stars remembered a friend.

And those who stayed close to him during his private health struggle remembered the person behind the famous television principal.

Even when Haskins could no longer personally respond to everyone who reached out, his friends made sure he heard their messages.

He may have spent his final years away from cameras and public appearances, but he was not forgotten.

Dennis Haskins left behind a character recognized by generations of television viewers and memories cherished by the people who knew him personally.

For millions of fans, whenever Bayside High returns to the screen, Mr. Belding will still be there.