Today in “DEVASTATING”💔: RIP Dennis Haskins, aka Mr. Belding. Were you a Saved By The Bell fan?

[WhiteSteve]

Awful news for the 40-somethings. We’ve lost Dennis Haskins, the actor who played 90s pre-teen America’s principal, Mr. Richard “The Big Bopper” Belding.

Despite being the arch nemesis to my teenage hero Zack Morris, Mr. Belding was a beloved character. Maybe a little clueless and out of touch at times, spoiling the kids’ shenanigans, or obliviously missing shenanigans right under his nose…but you never hated Mr. Belding.

His infectious/ridiculous cackle-laugh that Tucker Carlson definitely drew inspiration from…

You KNEW you were in for it when he’d catch you in the act, and say, “hey-hey-Hey-HEY! WHAT is going on here?”😝

We’ll never forget when he revealed he was once the KKTY school radio DJ, “The Big Bopper”…

The Big Bopper, master blastin’😎

And who can forget the aftermath of the famous Zack and Slater fight over some new girl at school, as Big Bopper was trying out a…. new look. “Looks totally natural, Richie; no one suspects a thing🤥”

(Best part at 4:30)

And we’ll never forget his finest hour. After being dissed by the kids about a class camping trip to Yosemite National Park in favor of whitewater rafting with his younger, seemingly much cooler brother who was a substitute teacher, his brother “Rod” bails last second, just to get laid. Mr. Belding steps in, makes an excuse for his brother against his own will just to not disappoint the kids, and instead takes them on the trip himself. Truly “the better Belding.”

Rest easy, Big Bopper. Tell Screech we said what’s up ✌️😇

[Abbycado]

That was way before my time. Nonetheless RIP

[WhiteSteve]

I can’t even imagine how ridiculous 1991 looks to someone your age😂 I have two little cousins who are right around your age, and this is a show I’d love to show them and watch them roll their eyes at each other when they think I’m not looking, lmao. I appreciate the RIP though🙏 Dude was a legend.

[rgb008]

So sad! 😭 I loved that show!! He didn’t seem that old either…

[WhiteSteve]

Only 75💔😭

[7Phoenix7]

I didn’t watch it much myself, but my older sister did, so Saved by the Bell was definitely around in my childhood. RIP Mr. Belding 🤍

[exitseven]

My kids used to watch this. It seemed like a good show