Dennis Haskins, Principal Belding on 'Saved by the Bell,' Dies at 75

Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for his role as Principal Richard Belding on the popular 1990s sitcom "Saved by the Bell," died on Monday at the age of 75. His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the news to TMZ, stating, "It's a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more. 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."

The cause of Haskins' death was not immediately available.

Haskins, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, first portrayed Principal Belding on "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" on the Disney Channel. The show was later retooled and became "Saved by the Bell," airing on NBC from 1989 to 1993. He continued the role in the spin-off "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" from 1993 to 2000.

In February 2015, Haskins reprised his iconic role in a sketch on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," appearing alongside former "Saved by the Bell" co-stars Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, and Tiffani Thiessen.

Beyond his most famous role, Haskins had a prolific career in television and film. His television credits include appearances on "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," "How I Met Your Mother," "New Girl," "Hot in Cleveland," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "Mad Men."

His filmography includes "A Million Ways to Die in the West" (2014), "Abstruse" (2019), and "Trailer Park Shark" (2017).

Haskins attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played basketball for one season. In 2000, he received the institution's Most Distinguished Alumni Award. Earlier in his career, Haskins was involved in USO tours, entertaining troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Oman, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

He is survived by his son, Dustin.