Dennis Haskins, the actor widely recognized for portraying Principal Richard Belding on the sitcom "Saved by the Bell," has died at the age of 75. His representative confirmed the news to Fox News Digital, noting that the cause of death remains unknown.
Haskins was born on Nov. 18, 1950, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He first originated the role of Principal Belding on the Disney Channel series "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," which was subsequently reworked into "Saved by the Bell." Haskins continued to play the often-exasperated principal throughout the original NBC series and later reprised the character on "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," extending his tenure with the role across more than a decade.
During his time on the show, Haskins managed to keep Zack Morris, portrayed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and his fellow Bayside High students in line. The character's frequent "Hey, hey, hey!" catchphrase became a signature moment of the series as Principal Belding attempted to rein in the student body.
Beyond his defining role in the "Saved by the Bell" franchise, Haskins appeared in numerous other television programs. His credits include "The Dukes of Hazzard," "The West Wing," "7th Heaven," "Mad Men," "New Girl," "Hot in Cleveland," and "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
His representative described Haskins as a great person who loved his fans and always had time for them. The representative stated that Haskins was a client and dear friend for over 20 years and expressed deep personal grief at his passing. Haskins is survived by his son, Dustin.