Saved By The Bell star Dennis Haskins died aged 75 on Sunday. Now, the reason he kept his health struggles private leading up to his death has been revealed.
Haskins’ agent, Jay Schachter, confirmed the actor’s death in a statement to Variety.
“It’s a tragic loss,” Schachter said. “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,” the statement continued.
After learning of Haskins’ death, Dimples, a karaoke spot where he regularly spent time, shared that the actor had been receiving care at an assisted living facility for the past eight years. He moved there after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a health battle he chose to keep private.
Dennis Haskins died at the age of 75
To those at Dimples, Haskins was more than just a familiar face. The Saved by the Bell actor had become a beloved fixture at the karaoke bar, where he was a longtime and well-known regular.
“Dennis was a staple at Dimples. A lot of people thought he owned it, but he didn’t. He just loved the place and its people. He enjoyed singing for people, meeting them, and taking selfies with his fans,” they penned in the emotional post.
“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,” they added.
The bar revealed that Haskins chose to keep his diagnosis and other health concerns out of the public eye because he wanted to avoid the attention.
“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,” they wrote.
Kept his health struggles secret
Those closest to him confirmed he was “at peace” and was “probably entertaining the people in the sky.”
“Just know that if you tried to reach out to him in the last few years, I did read your messages to him, and you were heard,” they said to his fans.
The tribute also shared a touching detail from the days following Haskins’ death.
“After I said my final goodbyes to him last night, I was across the hall signing some paperwork. I looked up and saw that the room he had been in was a gift from the Mario Lopez Golf Classic, and somehow, that made me feel a little better,” they said. “What a cool and amazing life he had. Rest in peace, Dennis. You were very much loved and will never be forgotten.”
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