Fans of Saved by the Bell are mourning the death of Dennis Haskins, who played principal Mr. Belding on the sitcom. His final public appearance was nearly eight years ago in Los Angeles.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The "Saved by the Bell" Star Was a Clippers Fan
As reported by Page Six, Haskins was last photographed at the Staples Center, now known as Crypto.com Arena, where he watched the Los Angeles Clippers take on the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 29, 2018.
All smiles at the game, the actor has not been seen in public since. But before he watched the Spurs beat the Clippers, Haskins was often seen in Los Angeles.
The month before, "America's Favorite Principal" was seen at the premiere of the musical A Bronx Tale at the Pantages Theatre. He was also spotted at the launch of Lucha VaVoom: Inside America's Most Outrageous Show.
Beyond playing Mr. Belding through multiple iterations of Saved by the Bell, Haskins reprised the role for a 2015 skit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. His other credits included roles on "The West Wing," "Mad Men," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "7th Heaven."
Dennis Haskins Was Beloved by Many
His friend and caretaker announced Haskins's death on Monday. The actor was 75. His agent, Jay Schachter, spoke about his relationship with Saved by the Bell fans.
"Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more," he said. "He was a great person, and he loved, I mean, absolutely LOVED his fans. He always had time for them, no matter what."
Haskins was also apparently a staple at Dimples Karaoke. An Instagram post from the Burbank, California, establishment claims that the actor was suffering from Parkinson's disease.
The caption read, "He had been silent about his fight with Parkinson's, among other health concerns, because he did not want the attention. He did not want to have to tell people. He would say, 'What do I even say?'"
It also added, "I respected his wishes and stayed quiet, and I helped him through his journey into the next chapter of his life. What a cool and amazing life he had. Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten."
