‘Saved by the Bell’ stars remember co-actor Dennis Haskins after his death at 75

Dennis Haskins was remembered by his co-stars as ‘a fabulous person’ and ‘a loyal friend.’
Dennis Haskins remembered by ‘Saved by the Bell’ co-stars following his death at 75 (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
Dennis Haskins remembered by ‘Saved by the Bell’ co-stars following his death at 75 (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Dennis Haskins' death has left many in Hollywood heartbroken. Following his demise, Haskins’ ‘Saved by the Bell’ castmates took to social media to mourn the beloved actor. 

Haskins was best known for playing Principal Richard Belding in the hit sitcom. He was 75 at the time of his passing.

His longtime agent, Jay Schachter, announced the news of his death in a statement to Variety. No cause of death or other details about the actor's passing have been revealed so far.

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Actor Dennis Haskins of the 1980's show Saved by The Bell performs onstage during the Strange 80's concert at The Fonda Theatre on October 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Actor Dennis Haskins of the 1980's show Saved by The Bell performs onstage during the Strange 80's concert at The Fonda Theatre on October 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California ( Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Dennis Haskins’ ‘Saved by the Bell’ co-stars honor his legacy

Tiffani Thiessen told Page Six, “Dennis Haskins was a steady presence in my teenage years, the kind of figure who kept us in line while making sure we knew he was in our corner.”

The actress, who played Kelly Kapowski in the ’80s teen sitcom, said she’ll “always remember [Haskins’] kindness and be grateful for the memories we as a cast got to share with him.”

“RIP Mr. B,” Thiessen, 52, added.

The cast and creator of NBC sitcom 'Saved by the Bell' ((back row) American actress Lark Voorhies, American actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, American actor Mario Lopez, and series creator, American author and screenwriter Sam Bobrick (1932-2019), (front row) American actress Tiffani Amber Thiessen, American actress Elizabeth Berkley, American actor Dennis Haskins, attending an NBC 'Hot Shots' event, circa 1990.  (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
The cast and creator of NBC sitcom 'Saved by the Bell' ((back row) American actress Lark Voorhies, American actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, American actor Mario Lopez, and series creator, American author and screenwriter Sam Bobrick (1932-2019), (front row) American actress Tiffani Amber Thiessen, American actress Elizabeth Berkley, American actor Dennis Haskins, attending an NBC 'Hot Shots' event, circa 1990 ( Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played Zack Morris, also paid tribute to Haskins, while Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, wrote on Instagram that she’s “truly heartbroken” by the actor's passing.

“Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life,” she said, adding, “which makes losing him hurt so deeply.”

Voorhies called the veteran actor “a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart,” and said she’ll miss his “warmth and laughter more than words can say.”

“Rest in peace Dennis, you will always hold a special place in my heart,” she concluded her tribute.

On the other hand, Mario Lopez, shared that he is “heartbroken” after hearing the news of Haskins' death. “He played the principal, but Dennis was the biggest kid on the SBTB set,” Lopez, 52, said. “If you knew him, you loved him- and if there was karaoke, you knew Dennis was getting on that mic!”

Lopez continued, “I’m grateful for the laughs, the memories, and the friendship we shared all these years. Rest easy, my friend. You’ll always be part of our Bayside family.”



Dennis Haskins’ agent says actor ‘absolutely loved his fans’

Haskins’ agent, Schachter, said, “It’s a tragic loss.” He further shared, “Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more. He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans. He always had time for them, no matter what.”

Schachter also mentioned, “He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly,” adding, “I’m heartbroken.” No cause of death or other details about his passing have been revealed so far.

For those unaware, Haskins had been fighting Parkinson’s for several years. Following the actor’s death, Dimples Karaoke, a bar in California, shared a heartfelt tribute. They wrote, “About eight years ago, he became ill."

“He had been silent about his fight with Parkinson’s, among other health concerns, because he did not want the attention. He did not want to have to tell people. He would say, ‘What do I even say?‘ So I respected his wishes and stayed quiet, and I helped him through his journey into the next chapter of his life,” the statement read.

“Late last night, that journey ended for him. He is now at peace and is probably entertaining the people in the sky. Just know that if you tried to reach out to him in the last few years, I did read your messages to him, and you were heard,” the team continued.

“After I said my final goodbyes to him last night, I was across the hall signing some paperwork. I looked up and saw that the room he had been in was a gift from the Mario Lopez Golf Classic, and somehow, that made me feel a little better. What a cool and amazing life he had. Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten,” they concluded.

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