Actor Dennis Haskins, famous for portraying Principal Richard Belding on the hit television series Saved by the Bell, died from Parkinson's disease at age 75 in Burbank, California.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health listed Parkinson's disease as his primary cause of death on a death certificate reviewed by TMZ on Tuesday.
Officials confirmed that Haskins passed away on September 27 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and muscle control, often causing tremors and stiffness. Burbank is a Southern California city located near Los Angeles that serves as a major hub for media production and entertainment studios.
According to the death certificate, Haskins had also been dealing with several other health conditions, including hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression.
Haskins' agent, Jay Schachter, issued a statement expressing grief over the actor's passing.
"It's a tragic loss," Schachter told The Daily Mail. "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," Schachter added. "He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly. I'm heartbroken."
Medical findings and final days
Haskins' ex-wife, Sarah Quinones, told TMZ on Thursday that the actor had resided in an assisted-living facility in recent years.
Quinones explained that Haskins had been reclusive with friends in an effort to keep his ongoing health struggle private.
Saved by the Bell was a popular American teen sitcom that originally aired on Saturday mornings, featuring the comedic lives of high school students at the fictional Bayside High School. Principal Belding served as the firm yet friendly headmaster throughout the series.
Playing Principal Belding
A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Haskins initially portrayed the character of Principal Belding on the Disney Channel show Good Morning, Miss Bliss from 1988 to 1989.
The series subsequently evolved into Saved by the Bell, which aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993, followed by Saved by the Bell: The New Class from 1993 to 2000.
Haskins also reprised the role in two television film specials: Saved by the Bell: The College Years in 1993 and Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas in 1994.
Throughout the franchise, Haskins appeared alongside core cast members Mario Lopez, Lark Voorhies, Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Dustin Diamond.
Diamond, who played the character Samuel "Screech" Powers, died at age 44 in 2021 after a brief battle with cancer.
In February 2015, Haskins reunited with co-stars Berkley, Gosselaar, Lopez, and Thiessen for a nostalgic sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Speaking to Parade magazine in 2013 about his signature role, Haskins shared his memories of joining the expanded show.
"When we got to the full-on Saved by the Bell, I knew it was something special because the energy was different, the kids were a little bit older, the dynamic was great between everybody, and we were having a great time," Haskins told Parade.
Haskins noted that "the show took off" once it began broadcasting on Saturday mornings.
"So it was a gradual process," he said. "It was a warm, fuzzy thing. They got to know us and we got to know them. It was a wonderful growing process."
Reflecting on playing Principal Belding, Haskins noted: "I had the best job of all. The principal stayed while the kids came and went. So I had a steady job for eleven years. For me, that's long-term. But I know that what everybody loves is the original Saved by the Bell."
Early life and theatrical career
Before moving into national television, Haskins grew up in Tennessee, attending Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Notre Dame High School prior to college, according to Chattanooga television station News Channel 9.
He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played on the university's basketball team for one season.
While attending college, Haskins worked on the school newspaper and participated in the drama club, student government, the Blue Key Honor Fraternity, and the Raven's Society, the station reported.
Serving as the university's student entertainment chairman, Haskins organized campus events, including a 1973 performance featuring the late music duo Ike and Tina Turner.
Haskins was also a co-founder of the Harlequins, a community theater group in Chattanooga, where he served as an actor, stage manager, and playwright.
In 2000, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga awarded Haskins its Most Distinguished Alumni Award.
Film roles and overseas tours
Prior to his breakthrough on Saved by the Bell, Haskins built an extensive television background during the 1980s.
His early credits included roles on popular series such as Archie Bunker's Place, The Greatest American Hero, Simon & Simon, The Fall Guy, CHiPs, Knots Landing, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Magnum, P.I.
Following his tenure on Saved by the Bell, Haskins appeared on numerous television shows, including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, Hot in Cleveland, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Mad Men.
His film credits included the 2014 comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West, the 2017 movie Trailer Park Shark, and the 2019 film Abstruse.
Haskins also spent decades participating in tours with the United Service Organizations (USO), entertaining American military personnel stationed overseas.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Haskins performed for troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia in earlier decades, and traveled in 2002 to entertain military personnel in Afghanistan, Oman, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Cast and fan tributes
Following news of his death, several of Haskins' former co-stars shared tributes honoring his memory on social media.
Mario Lopez stated he was "heartbroken to hear" the news and praised Haskins' cheerful demeanor on set.
"He played the principal, but Dennis was the biggest kid on the SBTB set. If you knew him, you loved him - and if there was karaoke, you knew Dennis was getting on that mic!" Lopez wrote.
Lopez added: "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."
Lark Voorhies said she was "truly heartbroken by his passing and will miss his warmth and laughter more than words can say."
"Knowing Dennis Haskins for almost 40 years has been one of the truest blessings of my life, which makes losing him hurt so deeply," Voorhies wrote. "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."
She added: "Rest in peace Dennis, you will always hold a special place in my heart."
Tiffani Thiessen described the late actor 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."
"I will always remember his kindness and be grateful for the memories we as a cast got to share with him," Thiessen said. "RIP Mr. B."
Fans also shared memories on social media platform X, celebrating Haskins' iconic television role.
"Another legend gone too soon," one user wrote. "The principal of the 90s. If you were a kid during that time, he was on your TV every Saturday morning. Rest easy Dennis."
Another viewer posted: "Rest in Peace, Dennis Haskins. I knew Mr. Belding a lot more than I knew my own principal. Thank you for all the wonderful memories at Bayside."
A third fan noted that "Bayside High will never be the same," adding: "RIP Mr. Belding."
Haskins is survived by his son, Dustin.
