Dennis Haskins, Beloved Principal on 'Saved by the Bell,' Dies

Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for his portrayal of Principal Richard Belding on the hit teen sitcom "Saved by the Bell," has died. No further details were immediately available.

Haskins was a familiar face on American television, but his role as the affable yet often flustered principal of Bayside High School made him a pop-culture staple for a generation of viewers. A still image from the ESPY Awards on July 17, 2013, in Los Angeles shows him arriving at the event.

Beyond his television work, Haskins was active in charitable causes and in entertaining U.S. military personnel. In November 2000, he visited Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, where he signed autographs and spent Thanksgiving with troops. "To be with all these men and women that are from — I'm getting chills now just thinking about it — who are working for us and watching out for us, I'd rather be here than anywhere else," he said at the time. "It's a great way to spend Thanksgiving."

His charity work extended to children as well. In November 1998, he joined musician Alice Cooper and others at the Harley Davidson Cafe in Las Vegas for a Thanksgiving luncheon benefiting approximately 65 abused and neglected children from St. Jude's Children's Ranch. A photograph captured Haskins and Cooper tearing off turkey legs alongside the children.

In 2012, he was photographed kissing skier Lindsey Vonn at a Red Bull celebration in Los Angeles, further showing his presence at sports and entertainment events.

Haskins' career spanned decades, and his portrayal of Mr. Belding remained his most iconic role, endearing him to fans long after the show ended.