Saved by the Bell star Dennis Haskins who played iconic Principal Belding dead at 75

Actor Dennis Haskins, best known for playing the role of Principal Richard Belding on the TV series Saved by the Bell, has died at the age of 75.

'It's a tragic loss,' Haskins' agent Jay Schachter told TMZ in a statement on Monday. '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.'

It was not immediately clear what the actor's cause of death was.

The Chattanooga, Tennessee native portrayed the role of Principal Belding initially on the show Good Morning, Miss Bliss on the Disney Channel from 1988-1989. 

The show subsequently became Saved by the Bell and aired on NBC from 1989-93, followed by Saved by the Bell: The New Class from 1993-2000.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Haskins' representative for further comment on the story.

Haskins reprised the role on the series in February of 2015 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, in which he appeared in a sketch with original co-stars Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen.

Haskins had also been seen on TV shows including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, Hot in Cleveland, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Mad Men.

Among the films he appeared in included 2014's A Million Ways to Die in the West, 2019's Abstruse and 2017's Trailer Park Shark.

According to Chattanooga's News Channel 9, Haskins had been a student at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Notre Dame High School prior to attending college.

The actor had attended college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played on the basketball team for a season. 

He had been named the institution's Most Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000.

While in college, he was a member of the school newspaper, and involved with the drama club, student government, Blue Key Honor Fraternity and Raven’s Society, according to the TV station. 

Haskins was a co-founder of the community theater group Harlequins, working multiple jobs for the organization, according to the TV station. In addition to his acting, he was a stage manager and playwright.

While serving as the university's student entertainment chairman, he had put together events, including a 1973 show featuring the late Ike and Tina Turner.

Haskins had been involved in tours for the USO decades back, entertaining troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia; and in 2002 in Afghanistan, Oman, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor is survived by son Dustin.