Saved by the Bell star Dennis Haskins’ cause of death revealed after beloved principal Mr Belding actor died aged 75
SAVED by the Bell star Dennis Haskins’ cause of death has been revealed after the much-loved actor died aged 75.
His death certificate shows Dennis died on September 27 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
The certificate, from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, lists Parkinson’s disease at the immediate cause of death.
It also lists irritable bowel syndrome, depression, hypertension, and benign prostatic hyperplasia as other significant conditions.
It was not publicly known that Dennis had Parkinson’s before he died and his former wife Sarah Quinones told TMZ he had even cut off communication with close pals to hide his diagnosis.
In his final years Dennis lived in an assisted-living facility and stopped returning calls and texts from Sarah and other close friends because he didn’t want anyone to know he was suffering from the illness.
Dennis found widespread fame playing Principal Belding on the hit show Saved by the Bell, as well as numerous spin-offs.
Dennis, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, initially played the role of Principal Belding on the show Good Morning, Miss Bliss from 1988-1989.
The series then became Saved by the Bell, which aired on NBC until 1993, followed by Saved by the Bell: The New Class from 1993-2000.
Dennis earned the nickname “America’s Favourite Principal” for his performance.
His character’s exasperated ‘Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?’ as he struggled to control his students became one of the show’s most iconic lines.
Dennis also reprised his role in the spin-off specials Saved by the Bell: The College Years in 1993 and Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas in 1994.
He starred alongside Mario Lopez, Lark Voorhies, Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and the late Dustin Diamond, who died in 2021 after a brief battle with cancer.
Before launching his TV career, Haskins attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where the school said he was deeply involved in campus life.
He worked as a music manager, agent and concert promoter, reportedly counting Tom Jones among his clients.
Dennis then made his network TV debut on the 1979 pilot episode of The Dukes of Hazzard.
Aside from his defining role as Mr Belding, Dennis racked up more than 100 acting credits over his decades-long career.
Dennis’ agent Jay Schachter told TMZ: “It’s a tragic loss. 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.”