Dennis Haskins, Beloved Principal Belding of 'Saved by the Bell,' Dies at 75

Dennis Haskins, the actor who became a familiar face to a generation of television viewers as Principal Richard Belding on the NBC sitcom "Saved by the Bell," has died. He was 75.

His agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the death early Tuesday. Further details were not immediately available.

In a statement, Schachter described the loss as tragic and said Haskins was cherished by those who knew him personally as much as his character was by audiences. "Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more," Schachter said, adding that Haskins made time for his fans regardless of the circumstances. Schachter, who said he had been Haskins' agent and close friend for more than two decades, called himself heartbroken.

"Saved by the Bell" aired from 1989 to 1993 and followed the exploits of a group of students at the fictional Bayside High in Southern California. Drawing on the spirit of the comedy film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," the series often depicted a school where the teenagers held more sway than their floundering principal. Its outlandish storylines earned the show both ridicule and affection.

Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, paid tribute to Haskins on Instagram, writing that she was heartbroken. She said knowing him for nearly four decades had been among the truest blessings of her life, and that he remained a wonderful person, a loyal friend and someone with a kind, gentle heart throughout their shared history.

Haskins was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A biography posted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga notes that he was active in the school's drama club and helped establish a community theater group.

Before turning to television, he worked as a music manager, agent and concert promoter, with clients including Tom Jones and Gregg Allman, according to his IMDb biography. In the 1980s, he went on to guest roles in series including "The Twilight Zone" and "Magnum, P.I."