In the 1980s and 1990s, a Saturday morning wasn’t complete without a trip to check in on the gang at Bayside High. Some of us were even lucky enough to catch an episode of “Saved By The Bell” before we saw the bus fly by. Principal Richard Belding kept his motley crew of students under control while allowing them just enough leeway for teenage hijinks. Sadly, Dennis Haskins, the man who brought Mr. Belding to life, passed away on September 28, 2026, TMZ reported.
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Fans Immediately Mourned the Loss of Dennis Haskins
Although most of us never met him, losing Dennis Haskins felt like a personal loss. Fans shared messages of love for Mr. Belding on social media.
“’Hey, hey, hey… what is going on here?’ Bayside High won’t be the same. Rest in peace, Mr. Belding,” a fan wrote.
“I had Dennis Haskins on my ESPN radio show way back in 2005. He was a good guy with no ego. Only humble and prideful for his time on a show that was a favorite for so many. RIP,” another person added.
Dennis Haskins embodied Mr. Belding, and it was so clear he enjoyed every day on set.
“He loved being that character. Seemed like a cool guy. That’s sad. 75 is still young imo. Forever Belding!!!” Another person wrote.
This fan’s message feels like a note from all of us. “Thank you for starting my day off positive before taking on my middle school & HS years. Rest easy, my fellow Tennessean Mr Belding.”
This story’s featured image is by NBCU Photo Bank
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