Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Richard Belding in ‘Saved by the Bell’, has died at the age of 75.
His agent and longtime friend, Jay Schachter, confirmed his death, saying the actor died on Saturday. No cause of death was disclosed, although Haskins had battled Parkinson’s disease.
Haskins first portrayed Belding in ‘Good Morning, Miss Bliss’ before reprising the role in ‘Saved by the Bell’, which aired from 1989 to 1993, and its spin-off ‘Saved by the Bell: The New Class’, which ran until 2000. He reunited with the original cast for a sketch on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ in 2015.
Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Haskins also appeared in ‘Mad Men’, ‘New Girl’, ‘Hot in Cleveland’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’.
He was a musician and participated in USO tours for American troops. He is survived by his younger brother.
