Saved by the Bell actor Dennis Haskins dead at 75

Dennis Haskins, best known for his role as Mr. Belding in the 90s sitcom Saved By the Bell, has died at age 75.

Haskins' agent confirmed his death to The Associated Press, saying it was a tragic loss and his client had been a dear friend for 20 years. He said that he absolutely loved his fans and always had time for them. Everyone loved Dennis, his agent said, and those who got to know him loved him even more.

In a social media post, Mario Lopez, Haskins’ Saved by the Bell co-star, said he was heartbroken to hear about his old friend. Haskins may have played the principal, but Lopez described him as the biggest kid on set. He said those who knew him, loved him, and if there was karaoke, Haskins would be on that mic.

What was he known for? Haskins made his television debut in 1979 with an appearance on an episode of CBS’ The Dukes of Hazzard.

He became best known for playing Principal Belding, a role he first portrayed on the Disney Channel series Good Morning, Miss Bliss. After one season, the show was reworked into NBC’s Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1989 to 1993. Haskins continued as Principal Belding in the spinoff Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which aired from 1993 through 2000.

Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., Haskins built a decades-long career with appearances in a wide range of television shows and films. His credits included Seth MacFarlane’s A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014), as well as Mad Men, Hot in Cleveland, and New Girl. He also appeared in Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, Cartoon Network’s Robot Chicken, and FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

His cause of death had not officially been determined as of Tuesday afternoon.