'Saved by the Bell' star Dennis Haskins' cause of death revealed

Edward Segarra and Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYWed, October 7, 2026 at 12:09 PM UTC

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A cause of death has been revealed for Dennis Haskins, a week after the "Saved by the Bell" actor died at the age of 75.

Haskins, who played high school principal Richard Belding on the iconic teen sitcom, died of Parkinson's disease, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. Several other substantial health conditions were also listed in the death certificate, including irritable bowel syndrome, depression, hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate, is a condition that can obstruct urine flow and cause symptoms such as frequent urination, a weak urine stream and difficulty emptying the bladder, according to the Mayo Clinic. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a chronic digestive condition that can cause abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and diarrhea or constipation, per Mayo Clinic.

The news comes after previous reports emerged that Haskins had a private battle with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological syndrome, in the years leading up to his death.

USA TODAY has reached out to Haskins' representatives for comment.

Haskins became an instantly recognizable TV presence as Bayside High's well-meaning principal, who was frequently exasperated by the schemes of Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and his friends. The Tennessee-born actor was originally brought onto the sitcom in 1988 for the show's first incarnation, the short-lived Disney Channel series "Good Morning, Miss Bliss."

Dennis Haskins death: 'Saved by the Bell' star, who played principal Mr. Belding, dies at 75

When "Miss Bliss" was reworked into "Saved by the Bell" for NBC the following year, Haskins continued as Belding alongside Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen,Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Lark Voorhies and Dustin Diamond (who died in 2021 of cancer).

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"Saved by the Bell" became a ratings smash in the Saturday morning slot, inspiring the TV network to launch its Teen NBC programming block, which focused on live-action shows geared toward adolescent viewers. Haskins was a beloved fixture of the school-time comedy with Principal Belding's signature catchphrase, "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?"

Haskins starred on "Saved by the Bell" throughout the show's four-season run from 1989 to 1993, and later reprised the role for "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," which ran for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000.

"We shared so much history together from our earliest days, and through it all, he remained a fabulous person, a loyal friend and someone with such a kind, gentle heart," Haskins' "Saved by the Bell" costar Lark Voorhies said shortly after his death. "I am truly heartbroken by his passing and will miss his warmth and laughter more than words can say."

More 'Saved by the Bell' news: Actress Tiffani Thiessen reveals surprising residual check

In a previous statement to USA TODAY, the actor's agent, Jay Schachter, called Haskins' death a "tragic loss."

"Everyone loved Mr. Belding, and those of us who got to know Dennis, loved him even more," Schachter said. "He was a great person, and he loved, I mean absolutely loved his fans."

Contributing: Sameen Chaudhry, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Saved by the Bell' star Dennis Haskins' cause of death revealed

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