He was 44.
As an actor and stand-up comedian, Diamond found fame playing Samuel “Screech” Powers on the “Saved by the Bell” franchise for over a decade.
The teen series was recently reinvented by the streaming service Peacock with some of the original stars, but not Diamond.
He caused controversy with his 2009 book “Behind the Bell”, in which Diamond shared backstage stories about filming the series, with some of his stories being unflattering to his costars.
He also faced some legal troubles and spent three months in prison for stabbing a man during a 2014 altercation at a Wisconsin bar.
The actor has appeared on a number of reality shows over the years, including “Celebrity Fit Club,” “Celebrity Boxing 2,” and “Celebrity Championship Wrestling.”
“Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dustin Diamond, a true comic genius,” tweeted Gosselaar. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. When I look back at our time working together, I will miss those raw, brilliant sparks that only he could produce. A pie in your face, my comrade. ‘
“Dustin, you will be missed my husband,” Lopez wrote on Instagram. “The fragility of this life is something that is never taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue.”