Former child star Dustin Diamond has passed away at the age of 44 after battling Stage 4 cancer.
Diamond is best remembered as the lovable geek Samuel “Screech” Powers in the Saved By The Bell television series. The star’s death comes as a devastating shock to fans of the series just weeks after his initial cancer diagnosis.
Dustin Diamond was diagnosed with what was believed to be a stage IV small-cell carcinoma and found himself hospitalized just three weeks ago. The diagnosis was confirmed by Diamond’s representatives about a week after his hospital stay began.
Diamond reportedly died due to complications from the carcinoma on Monday morning in a Florida hospital.
The actor’s agent, Roger Paul, released a statement on the rapid development of the cancer that led to the actor’s sudden passing less than a month from his initial diagnosis:
“In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution. Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
Dustin Diamond was a household name for some time throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s thanks to his role on Saved By The Bell. He started with the show back when it was still called Good Morning, Miss Bliss and stayed on once it was redeveloped into Saved By The Bell after just one season on the air.
As his character ‘Screech’ outgrew the show’s high school setting, Diamond still managed to outlast much of the rest of the series cast and stayed with the show throughout its various spinoffs like Saved By The Bell: The College Years and Saved by The Bell: The New Class. His run as the character lasted roughly twelve years from 1988 in Good Morning, Miss Bliss until the finale of Saved By The Bell: The New Class in the year 2000.
Sadly, as many former child stars do, Diamond struggled with several personal troubles once his run on Saved By The Bell came to a close. He remained in the spotlight by appearing in several reality shows and film cameo appearances over the years, but never truly found another major starring role.
Dustin Diamond is survived by his girlfriend and countless fans. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends in this tragic time of loss.
Rest In Peace Dustin Diamond
1977-2021
