International news, News

Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond dead of cancer at 44

Published 3 February, 2021

Basseterre

Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source

Actor was hospitalized for carcinoma last month

Mark Kennedy · The Associated Press 

Actor Dustin Diamond, famous for his portrayal of Screech on the ’90s sitcom Saved By The Bell, has died of carcinoma. He was 44. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo/The Associated Press)

Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond died Monday after a three-week fight with cancer, according to his spokesperson. He was 44.

“Dustin did not suffer,” Roger Paul said in a statement. “He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.” 

Diamond — best known for playing Screech on the hit ’90s sitcom — was hospitalized last month in Florida. His team disclosed later that he had carcinoma.

Former co-star Mario Lopez took to Twitter to say farewell: “Dustin, you will be missed, my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted.” 

‘True comedic genius’

Another co-star, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, called Diamond “a true comedic genius.”

“I will miss those raw, brilliant sparks that only he was able to produce,” Gosselaar said.

Saved by the Bell, centred on a group of teenage friends at a fictional California high school, aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/index.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1356322269618864129&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fdustin-diamond-dies-1.5896417&siteScreenName=cbc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=ed20a2b%3A1601588405575&width=550px

Its related shows included Saved by the Bell: The College YearsGood Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which also starred Diamond.

Video-streaming service Peacock launched a sequel last fall, which featured many from the original cast, including Gosselaar, Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Thiessen. Diamond was not included.

“Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted,” Thiessen said on Instagram in reaction to news of Diamond’s death. “God speed Dustin.”

Reality TV followed stardom

He starred in a handful of reality television series including the fifth season of Celebrity Fit ClubThe Weakest Link and Celebrity Boxing 2

In December 2013, Diamond appeared on an episode of OWN’s Where Are They Now? and became a house member on the twelfth season of Celebrity Big Brother.

Diamond was sued several times for delinquent taxes and in foreclosure proceedings for missing mortgage payments. Aside from appearing on reality TV shows, he made a sex tape and produced a tell-all documentary on Lifetime TV called The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story

In 2015, he was sentenced to four months in jail for his part in a Wisconsin barroom stabbing.

“Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh,” said Paul in the statement. “He was able to sense and feel other peoples’ emotions to such a length that he was able to feel them too — a strength and a flaw, all in one.”

Diamond signs a t-shirt before a taping of Former Child Star Week on Hollywood Squares, Aug. 3, 2003 in Hollywood, Calif. Diamond starred in a number of reality series following his time on Saved by the Bell. (Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

You Might Also Like