Dennis Haskins, finest recognized for enjoying beloved principal Mr. Belding in “Saved by the Bell,” has died. He was 75 years previous.
Haskins’ dying was confirmed by a longtime buddy and caretaker, WTVC reported from his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“It is a tragic loss. Everybody liked Mr. Belding and people of us who knew Dennis liked him much more. He was an ideal particular person and he liked, I imply completely LOVED his followers,” Haskins’ agent Jay Schachter advised the Hollywood Reporter.
“He at all times had time for them, it doesn’t matter what. He was my consumer and expensive buddy for over 20 years, and I’ll miss him terribly. I’m heartbroken.”
The reason for his dying has not been revealed.
Dimples Karaoke, a bar in Burbank, California, the place Haskins was a “staple” and plenty of patrons referred to as his “second dwelling,” mentioned in an Instagram put up Monday that the actor had spent the previous eight years battling Parkinson’s illness.
“He had stored quiet about his battle with Parkinson’s illness, amongst different well being issues, as a result of he did not need the eye. He did not wish to have to inform folks. He was like, ‘What am I saying?’ So I revered his needs and remained silent, and helped him alongside his journey to the following chapter of his life,” the message learn.
“What a cool and superb life he had. Relaxation in peace, Dennis. You have been a lot liked and can by no means be forgotten.”
Web page Six has reached out to Haskins’ agent for additional remark.
Haskins spent greater than a decade roaming the halls of Bayside Excessive as Principal Richard Belding on the hit sitcom “Saved by the Bell” (1989-93) and its spinoffs, together with “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” (1993-2000) – incomes him the nickname “America’s Favourite Principal.”
His character is exasperated: “Hey, hey, hey, what’s occurring right here? grew to become one of many collection’ most well-known strains as Belding struggled to maintain Zack Morris and the opposite college students in line.
Earlier than his tv profession, Haskins attended the College of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the place he was deeply concerned in campus life, in keeping with the varsity’s web site.
He helped discovered the Harlequins theater troupe, wrote and directed unique performs, and, as pupil authorities leisure president, booked Ike and Tina Turner for a 1973 campus live performance.
He additionally wrote for the scholar newspaper and arranged a charity basketball recreation pitting college students in opposition to metropolis officers to lift scholarships for the kids of native law enforcement officials.
Earlier than pursuing his performing profession, Haskins labored as a music supervisor, agent and live performance promoter, counting singer Tom Jones and rock star Gregg Allman amongst his purchasers, in keeping with his IMDb web page.
Haskins made his tv debut within the 1979 pilot episode of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” enjoying a patron at Boar’s Nest bar who takes a stiletto to Daisy Duke’s foot, in keeping with the Each day Actor.
His massive break on “Saved by the Bell” precursor “Good Morning, Miss Bliss, “Saved by the Bell” got here a decade later.
Haskins has amassed greater than 100 performing credit throughout his profession, together with appearances on hit exhibits like “The West Wing,” “Mad Males,” “It is At all times Sunny in Philadelphia” and “seventh Heaven,” in keeping with IMDb.
In 2009, Haskins additionally launched an album, “Karaoke with Your Favourite Principal Dennis.”
He’s survived by his son, Dustin, in keeping with The Hollywood Reporter.
Haskins’ dying comes 5 years after his “Saved by the Bell” co-star Dustin Diamond, who performed Samuel “Screech” Powers, died of lung most cancers in 2021 on the age of 44.