SAVED BY THE BELL ACTOR DENNIS HASKINS DIES AGED 75

Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Richard Belding in Saved by the Bell, has died at the age of 75. His agent, Jay Schachter, announced the death in a statement on Tuesday. Schachter said Haskins was "a great person" who "absolutely loved" his fans and always made time for them. He described Haskins as his client and friend of more than 20 years and said he would miss him terribly. Schachter did not disclose a cause of death. Haskins is survived by his son, Dustin Haskins.

Born in 1950, Haskins began his screen career with a role in The Dukes of Hazzard before landing the part that defined him. He played the headmaster in Saved by the Bell from 1989 to 1993, becoming known for the catchphrase "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?" He reprised the role for a further seven years in the spin-off series Saved by the Bell: The New Class. He later appeared in New Girl, Mad Men and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as well as the film A Million Ways to Die in the West.

In 2015, Haskins completed a theatre degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, having left his studies there unfinished when his acting career took off. The university later awarded him an honorary degree, having already named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 2000. Haskins said a college degree had remained something missing for him alongside the success of Saved by the Bell, his other acting roles and the books he had written. Haskins is remembered for his portrayal of Belding, a role he held for more than a decade across the original series and its spin-off.