The Miz has paid tribute to Dennis Haskins following the actor’s death at 75, remembering him as a friend rather than simply the television star he grew up watching. Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding in “Saved by the Bell,” also had a longstanding connection with professional wrestling and was a familiar face at WWE events.
Haskins’ death was confirmed by his agent, Jay Schachter, who described him as someone who deeply loved his fans. His cause of death has not been disclosed, although Haskins had previously been battling Parkinson’s disease.
For The Miz, the loss was particularly personal. The WWE star took to Instagram and reflected on how strange it was to lose another person he had recently known and cared about, writing, “This is crazy 3 of these posts in 2 days. Man, this is sad.”
Miz was referring to the recent deaths of PAC and WWE superfan “The Sign Guy,” meaning Haskins was the third person he had mourned publicly in just two days.
“The A-Lister” then recalled growing up watching Haskins on television and never expecting that the actor behind one of his childhood characters would eventually become his friend.
“Growing up, I watched Dennis Haskins on TV and never imagined that one day I’d get to call him my friend. When I finally met him, he was even better in person,” Miz wrote.
He remembered Haskins for his “infectious laugh” and the warmth he brought with him whenever they met. Miz also said Haskins had a way of making people around him feel special.
The former WWE Champion shared several photos with Haskins alongside the tribute. He admitted that it was difficult to accept that he would not hear that laugh again, while expressing gratitude that someone who had been part of his childhood later became part of his life.
Miz concluded his message by saying he would miss the friendship they developed and would always be thankful for the opportunity to know Haskins personally.
“It’s hard to believe I won’t hear that laugh again. I’ll miss the friend I got to know, and I’ll always be grateful that someone who was part of my childhood became part of my life. Rest in peace, Dennis.”
Dennis Haskins Had a Longstanding Connection to WWE
While Haskins became a familiar name to television audiences through “Saved by the Bell,” his connection with wrestling was more than a passing interest. He attended multiple WWE events over the years and was photographed at ringside, including at a 2016 episode of SmackDown.
Haskins also appeared in Matt Cardona’s “Z! True Long Island Story” series and made appearances around the independent wrestling scene. At one independent event, he even stepped into the ring and performed The Rock’s People’s Elbow.
His wrestling fandom was also reflected in an interview from 2012, when Haskins revealed that he had spoken with WWE about potentially taking an on-screen role but did not want the demanding schedule that came with being on the road.
Away from wrestling, Haskins’ legacy remains closely tied to Mr. Belding. He played the character from “Good Morning,” “Miss Bliss” through the original “Saved by the Bell,” later reprising the role in “The College Years” and “The New Class.” The original series ran for four seasons, while The New Class continued for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000.
For Miz, however, Haskins was no longer just the principal he watched on television growing up. He was a friend whose presence, laughter, and kindness had become part of Miz’s life, making the loss deeply personal.
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