Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on “Saved by the Bell,” has died. He was 75 years old.
Haskins’ longtime agent Jay Schachter confirmed the news to Variety Monday. The cause of death and other details have not been released at this time.
“This is a tragic loss,” Haskins said in a statement. “Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who knew Dennis loved him even more. He was a wonderful 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. I am heartbroken.”
Haskins played the iconic lead role of the long-running series from start to finish. The show ran from 1989 to 1992, and Haskins appeared in nearly 90 episodes. He also played Belding in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” the TV movie “Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style” and the precursor to the main series, “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” which aired in 1988.
His character used the catchphrase “Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on here?” » while trying to discipline Bayside High students Zack Morris, AC Slater and Screech Powers. He has performed alongside Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, Dennis Haskins, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez.
Haskins has also appeared in a number of other films and television shows, including “Abstruse”, “A Million Ways to Die in the West”, “A Bennett Song Holiday”, “Trailer Park Shark”, “Jennifer Falls” and more.
Dimples Karaoke, a bar in Burbank, California, shared a tribute on Instagram to the actor, who was a regular at the establishment.
The caption reads: “Dennis was a fixture at Dimples. Many people thought he owned it, but that wasn’t the case. He simply loved the place and its people. He loved singing for people, meeting them, and taking selfies with his fans. Dimples closed about 11 years ago and people still associate it with his beloved “home away from home.” He was known to most as Mr. Belding from Saved by the bell, but to us he was much more than that.
“Late last night, this journey ended for him. He is now at peace and probably entertaining the people in the sky. Just know that if you have tried to contact him over the past few years, I have read your messages to him and you have been heard.”
Gn entert
