Saved by the Bell star Dennis Haskins died on September 27 at the age of 75.
Saved by the Bell star Dennis Haskins died from Parkinson’s disease.
The actor, who played Principal Belding in all four seasons of the NBC teen sitcom, passed away on September 27 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, at the age of 75.
While Dennis’ death certificate, obtained by TMZ, identifies Parkinson’s disease as the immediate cause, it also lists irritable bowel syndrome, depression, hypertension, and benign prostatic hyperplasia as other significant conditions.
The outlet reports that Dennis “spent his final years in an assisted-living facility” and cut off contact with his ex-wife, Sarah Quinones, and other close pals as he “didn’t want anyone to know he was suffering from his illnesses”.
On September 28, the entertainer’s death was confirmed by his agent Jay Schacher, who called it a “tragic loss”.
He added to People: “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. I’m heartbroken.”
Dimples Karaoke Bar in Burbank said in a post on their Instagram page that Dennis suffered from Parkinson’s disease, but kept quiet about the diagnosis around eight years ago because he “did not want the attention”.
They added: “He did not want to have to tell people. He would say, ‘What do I even say?’ So I respected his wishes and stayed quiet, and I helped him through his journey into the next chapter of his life.”
The karaoke bar added that Dennis had been such a “staple” at the establishment that multiple people mistakenly assumed he owned it.
The tribute, which revealed Dennis had died on September 27, continued: “He just loved the place and its people. He enjoyed singing for people, meeting them, and taking selfies with his fans.
“Dimples closed down about 11 years ago, and people still associate him with his beloved ‘second home.’
“He was known to most as Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell, but to us, he was much more than that.
“What a cool and amazing life he had. Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten.”
Dennis made his screen debut on CBS’ action-comedy series The Dukes of Hazzard back in 1976, but it was his role in Saved by the Bell that he became synonymous with.
His final outing as Principal Belding came in 2015, when he joined Saved by the Bell co-stars Tiffani Thiessen (Kelly Kapowski), Mario Lopez (A.C. Slater), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zachary “Zach” Morris) and Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie Spano) in a sketch on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Saved by the Bell star Dennis Haskins’ cause of death revealed
