Celebrity3 min(s) read
Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Mr. Belding in Saved By The Bell, has sadly died aged 75 on Sunday.
The actor's death was confirmed by his agent, Jay Schachter, who issued a statement to Variety.
"It’s a tragic loss," Schachter said. "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. He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly. I’m heartbroken," he added.
Following the news, Dimples, a karaoke bar the actor often visited, said Haskins had been living in an assisted living facility since he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago, a struggle he kept secret.
The bar remembered the Saved by the Bell star as a cherished regular who became closely tied to the venue.
"Dennis was a staple at Dimples. A lot of people thought he owned it, but he didn’t. He just loved the place and its people. He enjoyed singing for people, meeting them, and taking selfies with his fans," they penned in the emotional post.
"Dimples closed down about 11 years ago, and people still associate him with his beloved 'second home.' He was known to most as Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell, but to us, he was much more than that," they added.
The bar revealed that Haskins kept his Parkinson's diagnosis and other health concerns private because he did not want the attention.
"He did not want to have to tell people. He would say, 'What do I even say?' So I respected his wishes and stayed quiet, and I helped him through his journey into the next chapter of his life," they wrote.
Those closest to the actor said he was now "at peace" and was "probably entertaining the people in the sky." They also reassured fans who tried to contact Haskins that in recent years their messages had still reached him.
"Just know that if you tried to reach out to him in the last few years, I did read your messages to him, and you were heard," they said.
The tribute then went on to reveal one poignant moment after saying goodbye to Haskins.
"After I said my final goodbyes to him last night, I was across the hall signing some paperwork. I looked up and saw that the room he had been in was a gift from the Mario Lopez Golf Classic, and somehow, that made me feel a little better," they said. "What a cool and amazing life he had. Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten."
Haskins became a familiar face to millions of viewers after playing the iconic principal in the long-running series from start to end.
The show ran from 1989 to 1992, and the late star appeared in nearly 90 episodes.
He also played Belding in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, the TV movie Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style, and the precursor to the main series, Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which aired in 1988.
Haskins' other TV credits include appearances on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, New Girl, and The West Wing. He has also starred in films such as A Million Ways to Die In The West and the BAFTA-nominated drama Clemency.
He is survived by his son, Dustin.
