Dennis Haskins, widely recognized for his portrayal of Mr. Belding on Saved by the Bell , has died at the age of 75.
His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the news in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter ). However, the circumstances surrounding his death and the cause have yet to be disclosed.
“It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more,” Schachter said. “He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans. 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.”
Haskins made his television debut in 1979, appearing in an episode of CBS’ The Dukes of Hazzard. However, he would go on to achieve widespread recognition for playing Mr. Belding, the school principal in both Saved by the Bell (1989-93) and Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993-2000).
He initially portrayed Mr. Belding on the Disney Channel’s Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was reworked and renamed Saved by the Bell after its first season. His final appearance in the role came in 2015, when he reunited with series stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, and Tiffani Thiessen for a sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The Tennessee-born actor, who was also a musician, enjoyed a long career spanning numerous television shows and films. His credits included Cartoon Network’s Robot Chicken, FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Seth MacFarlane’s A Million Ways to Die in the West, Mad Men, Hot in Cleveland, and New Girl.
