Saved By The Bell star Dennis Haskins dies aged 75

Dennis Haskins, the beloved actor who played Principal Richard Belding on Saved by the Bell for more than 10 years, has died aged 75.

Haskins’ agent Jay Schachter announced his death in a statement released to the media on Tuesday.

“It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more,” Schachter said.

“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.”

Schachter did not share details about Haskins’ cause of death.

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Born in 1950, the American actor got his start on The Dukes of Hazzard series before finding mainstream success as stern Mr Belding on Saved by the Bell.

It wasn’t an easy role to land; Haskins had to audition for the sitcom seven times before he was finally cast.

Known for the iconic catchphrase “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?“, Haskins became a staple of the series, which ran from 1989 until 1993.

He continued in the role in the Saved by the Bell: The New Class spinoff, which aired for a further seven years.

More than a decade after the spinoff wrapped, Haskins came back as Mr Belding for one last appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he reunited with former cast mates Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen.

Haskins’ other acting credits include roles in TV shows like New Girl, Mad Men and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and films like A Million Ways to Die in the West.

He is survived by his son, Dustin Haskins.

Sadly, the cast of Saved By The Bell lost another beloved co-star just five years ago.

Dustin Diamond, who played Samuel “Screech” Powers alongside Haskins, passed away suddenly in 2021 from lung cancer. He was 44.