Dustin Diamond dies of cancer at 44. ‘Saved by the Bell’ fans react to actor’s death
Dustin Diamond, who played nerdy Screech on “Saved by the Bell,” died Monday of stage 4 lung cancer, according to media reports.
Diamond played Zack Morris’ trusty sidekick on “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” which blossomed into “Saved by the Bell.” The popular series aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993, offering a glimpse into the lives of teenagers at a California high school.
Diamond reprised his role on “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” from 1993 to 2000.
He was hospitalized in mid-January due to his lung cancer diagnosis, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution,” his representatives said, according to Variety. “Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
Fans of “Saved by the Bell” reacted on social media Monday following Diamond’s death. Many people thanked him for his role of Screech.
Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who starred alongside Diamond on “Saved by the Bell,” all sent their condolences on social media Monday afternoon.
“Dustin, you will be missed my man,” Lopez said. “The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on...”
“I am deeply saddened by the news of my old co-star Dustin Diamond passing,” Thiessen said. “Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin.”
“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dustin Diamond, a true comedic genius,” Gosselaar said. “My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Looking back at our time working together, I will miss those raw, brilliant sparks that only he was able to produce. A pie in your face, my comrade.”
Diamond fell out of favor with his “Saved by the Bell” castmates after writing a tell-all book in 2009 titled “Behind the Bell.” When the reboot of the original show was launched on Peacock in 2020, Diamond was not included.
In addition to his roles on the various “Saved by the Bell” shows, Diamond was a reality TV staple. He appeared on “Celebrity Big Brother,” “Celebrity Fit Club” and “Celebrity Boxing 2,” among other shows.
He was sentenced to serve four months in jail in 2015 following a Wisconsin bar stabbing, the Associated Press reported.
“He — much like the rest of those who act out and behave poorly — had undergone a great deal of turmoil and heartache,” his agent, Roger Paul, told Variety. “His actions, though rebukeable, stemmed from loss and the lack of knowledge on how to process that pain properly. In actuality, Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh.”
This story was originally published February 1, 2021 at 2:29 PM.