Dennis Haskins has died at the age of 75. The U.S. actor passed away, his spokesperson told U.S. media. Millions of viewers knew him as Principal Richard Belding from “Saved by the Bell,” known in Germany as “California High School – Recess Stress and First Love.” No details were initially provided about the cause of death.

Dennis Haskins Played Mr. Belding for More Than a Decade

Haskins’ most memorable role did not begin with “Saved by the Bell.” He first played the high school principal in the Disney Channel series “Good Morning, Miss Bliss.” After one season, the show was revamped and moved to NBC, where it continued from 1989 to 1993 as “Saved by the Bell.”

Haskins reprised his role as Belding in the sequel series “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” which ran from 1993 to 2000. He played the principal one last time in February 2015 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in a skit featuring several former cast members of the series.

Agent Jay Schachter Paid Tribute to the Actor

His longtime agent, Jay Schachter, commented on the actor’s death. “It’s a tragic loss. Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more,” Schachter said, according to t-online. He had represented Haskins for more than 20 years.

Schachter also described Haskins as someone who devoted a great deal of time to his audience. Details about exactly when and where Haskins died were not initially released. There was also no public information at the time about any serious illness he may have had.

A Karaoke Bar in Tennessee Was One of His Favorite Places

Another special place in the actor’s life was Dimples karaoke bar in Tennessee. According to the bar’s staff, Haskins was a regular there. He often sang, met fans, and took selfies with guests.

An obituary posted on Instagram also stated that Haskins had battled Parkinson’s disease for eight years and had deliberately chosen not to make his illness public because he did not want the attention, as n-tv reported. The condition had not previously been publicly known. Some guests at the bar even mistook him for the owner.

From “The Dukes of Hazzard” to “Mad Men”

In addition to his iconic television role, Haskins worked in film and television for decades. His first TV appearance came in 1979 on “The Dukes of Hazzard.” He later appeared in shows such as “Mad Men,” “New Girl,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” as well as in Seth MacFarlane’s 2014 film “A Million Ways to Die in the West.”

Haskins also played basketball for a year at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which honored him as an outstanding graduate in 2000. As a musician, he performed for U.S. soldiers in places including Kosovo, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.

He is survived by his son, Dustin.