American actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the hit sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died aged 75.
Dennis’ death was announced by his agent, Jay Schachter, in a statement released on Tuesday.
“It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more,” Jay 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.”
Dennis’ cause of death was not disclosed. He is survived by his son, Dustin Haskins.
© NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesDennis played the beloved school teacher Mr. Belding for more than a decade. He debuted the character on the Disney Channel show Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which ran for one season before becoming Saved by the Bell, running from 1989-93. He then reprised the role on Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which aired from 1993-2000.
Dennis Haskins’ life and career
Dennis, born in 1950, was much-loved for his portrayal of Mr Belding. His character was famed for his iconic catchphrase, “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”.
The actor, who made his TV debut on the action comedy The Dukes of Hazzard, also appeared in series such as New Girl, Mad Men, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Dennis last played Belding in February 2015 when he reunited with Saved by the Bell stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen for a sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
© Getty ImagesDennis was also a musician and released his first music album, Karaoke with Your Favorite Principal Dennis, in 2009.
In 2015, at the age of 65, Dennis graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre.
Marking his graduation with a post on social media at the time, he opened: “So long for now, Chattanooga! I can’t thank you enough for this past weekend! It was a blessing!”
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