Actor Dennis Haskins, known for playing Mr. Belding, dies at 75

Dennis Haskins, the actor who portrayed principal Richard Belding on the teen sitcom "Saved by the Bell," died at 75, his agent said on Monday. The cause and manner of death have not been released. > "It’s a tragic loss," said Jay Schachter, head of film and television for Stewart Talent in New York City, in a statement. Haskins, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he wrote for the student newspaper, performed in campus productions and helped found the community theater group Harlequins. Before acting, he worked as a music manager and concert promoter, representing artists such as Tom Jones and Gregg Allman. Early television credits included appearances on "Magnum, P.I." and "The Twilight Zone." His breakout role came with the Disney Channel pilot "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" in 1988, which was rebranded as "Saved by the Bell" the following year and ran until 1993. He later reprised the character in the spin-off "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," which aired until 2000, and continued to act in various film and TV projects, including a guest spot on "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia." > "He was my client and dear friend for over 20 years, and I will miss him terribly," Schachter added, expressing personal grief.