Dennis Haskins lived with Parkinson’s disease for about eight years before his death at 75, keeping the diagnosis largely out of public view as his health declined.
The Saved by the Bell actor’s ex-wife, Sarah Quinones, told TMZ that Haskins did not want people to know about his illness. He became increasingly private and stopped returning some calls and messages from longtime friends.
Haskins died Sunday night at an assisted living facility in Burbank, California. His friend and longtime caretaker Kimberly Snow said his health problems began roughly eight years ago.
No official cause of death has been announced. The accounts from people close to Haskins establish that he had Parkinson’s disease, but do not establish that the condition caused his death.
Haskins Did Not Want People to Know About His Illness
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Snow, who previously managed the Burbank karaoke bar Dimples, helped care for Haskins as his health deteriorated. In a tribute following his death, she explained why so little had been publicly known about what he was experiencing.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Snow said Haskins became ill about eight years ago and remained silent about Parkinson’s and other health concerns because he did not want the attention that would come with discussing them.
Snow recalled Haskins asking, “What do I even say?” She respected his wishes and remained quiet while helping him through the years that followed.
His withdrawal did not mean messages from friends went unheard. Snow said she read messages to Haskins when people tried to contact him during his final years, even when he was no longer responding himself.
Dimples Karaoke Became His ‘Second Home’
Snow knew Haskins through Dimples, where the actor became such a familiar presence that some customers mistakenly thought he owned the Burbank bar.
Haskins regularly sang karaoke, met fans and posed for photographs there. Snow described the venue as his “second home,” a connection that remained closely associated with him even after Dimples closed about 11 years ago.
Her tribute remembered Haskins as more than the television principal viewers recognized. At Dimples, he was a regular who enjoyed entertaining the crowd and meeting the people who came through the bar.
His Agent Remembered His Connection With Fans
Haskins’ longtime agent Jay Schachter confirmed his death Monday and remembered the actor for the attention he gave viewers who approached him.
“Everyone loved Mr. Belding and those of us who got to know Dennis loved him even more,” Schachter said. He added that Haskins “absolutely LOVED his fans” and consistently made time for them.
Schachter represented Haskins for more than 20 years and described him as both a client and a close friend.
Haskins Played Principal Belding for More Than a Decade
Haskins became best known as Principal Richard Belding, beginning with Good Morning, Miss Bliss before continuing the role on Saved by the Bell.
He remained part of the franchise after the original series ended, playing Belding on Saved by the Bell: The New Class through 2000. The character made Haskins a familiar face to several generations of viewers.
His television career extended beyond Bayside High, with appearances on series including How I Met Your Mother, The West Wing, 7th Heaven, Victorious and Hot in Cleveland.
Haskins returned to Belding in 2015 for a Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon sketch that reunited him with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffani Thiessen.