Mario Lopez reacts to “Saved by the Bell ”costar Dennis Haskins’ death: ‘Heartbroken’

Leigh BlickleyTue, September 29, 2026 at 4:33 PM UTC

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Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins on ‘Saved by the Bell’Credit: Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/GettyKey Points -

Mario Lopez posted a tribute to Dennis Haskins after his death.

The actors starred together on Saved by the Bell, from 1989 to 1993.

Lopez said he’s “heartbroken” over the loss of his “old friend.”

Mario Lopez is paying tribute to “the biggest kid” on the Saved by the Bell set.

The actor and TV personality remembered his late costar, Dennis Haskins, on Instagram Tuesday, a day after the star behind Mr. Belding died at the age of 75. Lopez played high schooler A.C. Slater on the beloved ’90s sitcom, alongside Haskins’ onscreen principal.

“Heartbroken to hear about my old friend Dennis Haskins,” Lopez wrote. “He played the principal, but Dennis was the biggest kid on the SBTB set. If you knew him, you loved him—and if there was karaoke, you knew Dennis was getting on that mic! 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. ❤️.”

Alongside his message, Lopez shared an AI image of himself and Haskins on the set, with The Hollywood Reporter’s logo and headline: “Dennis Haskins, Principal Belding on ‘Saved by the Bell,’ Dies at 75.”

Mario Lopez remembers Dennis HaskinsCredit: Dennis Haskins/Instagram

He posted a more recent photo of the pair on his Instagram Stories, writing, “RIP my friend,” and also shared a behind-the-scenes clip from their days on Saved by the Bell.

In the video, Lopez enters Mr. Belding’s office and tells Haskins he needs his advice “even off the set because he’s like that well-rounded individual, you know?”

“Get outta here,” Haskins jokes back.

Lopez and Haskins appeared on Saved by the Bell during its four-season run from 1989 to 1993. (The show gained even more fans in syndication over the years.) Haskins originated Mr. Belding on 1988’s Good Morning, Miss Bliss, and continued to reprise the role in the spinoff, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which ran from 1993 to 2000.

“Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life, which makes losing him hurt so deeply,” fellow Saved by the Bell costar Lark Voorhies shared on Monday evening, after news broke of Haskins’ death. “We shared so much history together from our earliest days, and through it all, he remained a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart.”

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She continued, “I am truly heartbroken by his passing and will miss his warmth and laughter more than words can say. Rest in peace Dennis, you will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Haskins will long be remembered for playing Mr. Belding, who taught many life lessons to a fictional group of high school friends at Bayside High School, played by Lopez, Voorhies, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, and Dustin Diamond, who died in 2021.

Dennis Haskins on ‘Saved by the Bell’ season 2Credit: Gary Null/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

According to his friend and caretaker, Kimberly Snow, Haskins had been battling Parkinson’s disease for eight years before his death. Snow confirmed with The New York Times that he had been in an assisted living facility since the diagnosis.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative “movement disorder of the nervous system” that can cause “stiffness, slowing of movement, and trouble with balance,” according to the Mayo Clinic. There is no cure for the illness, but its symptoms can be treated with medicine and surgery.

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Haskins’ agent, Jay Schacher, confirmed the actor’s death in a statement to Entertainment Weekly’s sister publication, PEOPLE, on Monday.

“It’s a tragic loss,” Schacher said. “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.”

Schacher continued, “He always had time for them, no matter what. He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly.”

on Entertainment Weekly

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