Dennis Haskins, the American actor widely recognised for playing Principal Richard Belding on the hit sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died at the age of 75.
Haskins’ death was confirmed on Tuesday by his longtime agent, Jay Schachter, who described the actor as a close friend and praised his strong connection with fans. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Schachter said Haskins was deeply loved by viewers and always made time for the people who supported his work.
Haskins became a familiar face to television audiences through Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1989 to 1993. The NBC comedy followed a group of students at the fictional Bayside High School in California, with Haskins’ Principal Belding frequently trying to maintain order amid the students’ antics.
Although Belding was the school’s principal, the teenagers often appeared to be one step ahead of him, becoming a central part of the show’s comedy.
Haskins’ former co-star Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, paid tribute to him after news of his death emerged.
Voorhies said she had known Haskins for nearly four decades and described him as a loyal friend with a kind and gentle personality.
Haskins’ career before ‘Saved by the Bell’
Born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Haskins developed an interest in acting during his school years. A biography from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga says he participated in the institution’s drama club and helped establish a community theatre group.
Before becoming widely known as an actor, Haskins worked in the music business as a manager, agent and concert promoter. His reported clients included musicians Tom Jones and Gregg Allman.
He later moved further into television and appeared in guest roles on series including The Twilight Zone and Magnum, P.I. during the 1980s.
His role as Principal Belding ultimately became the performance most closely associated with his career.
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Haskins continued acting beyond Saved by the Bell and remained connected with fans of the sitcom throughout his later years.
His death marks the loss of an actor whose portrayal of the well-meaning Bayside High principal became a memorable part of American television comedy.