Dennis Haskins, the actor who brought Bayside High School Principal Richard Belding to life on 'Saved by the Bell,' has died at the age of 75. His spokesperson confirmed the death on Monday, September 28, in a statement to Us Weekly.
"It's a tragic loss," his spokesperson told Us Weekly. "Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more."
Haskins first stepped into the role of Principal Belding in 1988 on the short-lived teen comedy 'Good Morning, Miss Bliss.' When the Saturday morning sitcom was revamped as 'Saved by the Bell' the following year, his character was one of the few carried over. The show aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993.
His portrayal of Mr. Belding became a beloved nemesis for smart aleck heartthrob Zack Morris, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The character's popularity grew to the point that he took on a more prominent role in the spinoff 'Saved By the Bell: The New Class,' which ran from 1993 to 2000.
Haskins also reprised the iconic role for cameo appearances on the primetime spinoff 'Saved by the Bell: The College Years' and the TV movie 'Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas.'
His representative remembered him as a man who cherished his fans. "[Dennis] was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely LOVED his fans," the rep told Us Weekly. "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'm heartbroken."
For a generation of viewers, Haskins' Mr. Belding was the exasperated but ultimately caring authority figure at the center of the Saturday morning staple. His death marks the loss of a performer whose signature role became a touchstone of 1990s pop culture.