Dustin Diamond – best known for playing the lovable Samuel “Screech” Powers on the hit NBC sitcom “Saved by the Bell” – has passed away … has learned TMZ.
A representative for Dustin tells us that he passed away Monday morning. His condition had deteriorated sharply since last week, and he was taken off the ventilator in an attempt to get him to hospice. His girlfriend was by his side when he died.
Dustin’s death comes just a few weeks after completing his first course of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage 4 small cell carcinoma … what is commonly called lung cancer. We were told cancer started somewhere in Dustin’s body and spread to his lungs.
He was initially in hospital in Florida in January after pain all over his body and a general feeling of discomfort. Unfortunately for the child star … it turned out to be cancer.
Dustin is, of course, famous for playing Screech in four seasons of “Saved by the Bell” as Zack Morris’ (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) nerdy sidekick who struggled to get one of Lisa Turtle’s (Lark Voorhieslove and affection.
After the kids graduated from Bayside HS … the show got a short-lived spin-off with “Saved by the Bell: The College Years.” There was also “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” … in which Dustin appeared as Screech from seasons 2 to 7 as Mr. Belding.
24/02/20
TMZ.com
Dustin was not rescheduled for the show’s reboot on Peacock. We spoke to him about why in January 2020 he was not logged in for the new project. The short answer … he didn’t know why, but pleaded for Screech’s revenge.
Dustin would appear in a host of other roles … including as the groom in the 98 Degrees music video for their 1999 hit, “I Do (Cherish You).” He also appeared in 2 episodes of “The Wonder Years”. He gained notoriety for directing his own sex tape in 2006, but later admitted Oprah Winfrey it wasn’t him … but a double.
He’s also appeared on numerous reality shows … including “Celebrity Boxing 2” and “Celebrity Fit Club,” where he didn’t make too many friends after confronting countless cast members.
There were also other stunts that turned his career from a beloved child actor to a controversial celebrity. Like when Dustin had to fight the so-called angry bagel boy, Chris Morgan, before CM withdrew from the fight.
But through it all … Dustin got tons of love from fans and friends alike, including the president and CEO of Insurance King Dan Block, which packaged the NASCAR driver Josh Bilicki‘s car in it Dustin’s honor.
Dustin was 44.
REST IN PEACE