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

Dennis Haskins, best known for his role as the unflappable Principal Richard Belding on the 1990s sitcom "Saved by the Bell," has died at the age of 75. His death was confirmed by his agent, Jay Schachter, who stated, "He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans."

Schachter added, "Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more. He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly."

Haskins's castmates from "Saved by the Bell" expressed their grief and shared fond memories on social media. Mario Lopez, who played A.C. Slater, wrote on Instagram, "Heartbroken to hear about my old friend Dennis Haskins. He played the principal, but Dennis was the biggest kid on the SBTB set. If you knew him, you loved him... I’m grateful for the laughs, the memories, and the friendship we shared all these years. Rest easy, my friend. You’ll always be part of our Bayside family."

Tiffani Thiessen, who portrayed Kelly Kapowski, remembered Haskins as "a steady presence in my teenage years, the kind of figure who kept us in line while making sure we knew he was in our corner." She added, "I will always remember his kindness and be grateful for the memories we as a cast got to share with him. RIP Mr. B."

Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, shared, "Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life, which makes losing him hurt so deeply. We shared so much history together from our earliest days, and through it all, he remained a fabulous person, a loyal friend, and someone with such a kind, gentle heart." Voorhies also listed the date of his death as September 27.

Haskins, a Chattanooga, Tennessee, native, first portrayed Principal Belding on "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" on the Disney Channel from 1988 to 1989. The series was later rebranded as "Saved by the Bell" and aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993. He reprised the role in subsequent spin-offs, including "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," "Saved by the Bell: The College Years," and "Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas."

The cause of Haskins's death has not been publicly disclosed.

"Saved by the Bell" also starred Dustin Diamond, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, and Ed Alonzo, among others.