Saved by the Bell actor Dennis Haskins dies at 75 after Parkinson's battle

Dennis Haskins, the American actor who became a familiar face to a generation as Principal Richard Belding on the sitcom Saved by the Bell, has died at the age of 75. A statement released after his death did not give a cause, but it confirmed he had been living with Parkinson's disease for a long time.

The statement was posted on Instagram by Dimples Karaoke, a bar he visited so often that the venue described it as his second home. "Late last night, that journey ended for him. He is now at peace and is probably entertaining the people in the sky," the post read. The writer added that they had read every message fans sent him in recent years, and that the room he had been in was a gift from the Mario Lopez Golf Classic, a detail that brought them some comfort.

According to the post, Haskins fell ill about eight years ago and chose to keep his condition to himself. He reportedly did not want the attention and would ask what he could even say to people, so those close to him respected his wishes and stayed quiet while helping him through.

His agent, Jay Schachter, reportedly called the death a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr Belding, he said, and those who got to know Dennis loved him even more. Schachter added that the actor absolutely loved his fans, always made time for them, and had been his client and dear friend for more than 20 years.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Haskins reportedly worked as a music manager, agent and concert promoter before television, with Tom Jones and Gregg Allman among his clients. Beyond Saved by the Bell, his screen credits are said to include CHiPs, Knots Landing, The Dukes of Hazzard, The West Wing and 7th Heaven.

Tributes poured in online as the news spread. One fan wrote that Mr Belding had made Saved by the Bell so much fun, while another remembered him as the nicest guy in the world, a regular who would sing karaoke or sip a whiskey ginger at the bar like anyone else.