Sport & Entertainment
| Feb 2, 2021

Co-stars react as ‘Saved by the Bell’s Dustin Diamond succumbs to cancer

/ Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 3 minutes

‘Saved by the Bell’ star Dustin Diamond, 44, has died after a brief battle with stage 4 cancer.

He was diagnosed with the brutal disease just last month.

The actor started chemotherapy immediately after his diagnosis as the cancer had already metastasized to his lungs.

Diamond and his team revealed the unexpected diagnosis via his Facebook page on January 14.

He died on February 1, less than three weeks later.

According to his rep, Diamond’s condition had significantly declined over the weekend and he had been taken off breathing tubes in order to transport him to hospice care.

The family does have a history of cancer, as his mom died from breast cancer.

The Birth of ‘Screech’

Diamond started his acting career while he was in the fifth grade. He starred in the NBC ‘80s and early ‘90s Hayley Mills sitcom Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987), as 8th-grader, Samuel ‘Screech’ Powers.

He has been commonly known as ‘Screech’, ever since his 1987 debut.

Dustin Diamond (top) as ‘Screech’ Powers; Middle: Tiffani Thiessen (left) as Kelly Kapowski, Mark-Paul Gosselaar(second left) as Zack Morris, Mario Lopez (second right) as A.C. Slater, Elizabeth Berkley (right) as Jessie Spano; Bottom: Lark Voorhies as Lisa Turtle. (Photo: NBCU Photo Bank)

The 1987 series evolved into Saved by the Bell (1989) with a variety of movies and spin-offs.

“I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dustin Diamond, a true comedic genius,” Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who co-starred opposite Diamond on the comedy series said in a statement.

“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.”

Lark Voorhies, who portrayed Lisa Turtle, also shared a tribute to Diamond.

“Words cannot express the grief that I am feeling right now. Dustin and I had a warm and special friendship, he was a caring gentleman, and my memories of him will always be cherished, I am so very sorry he is gone. But it’s exceptionally sad for his close loved ones who have to deal with his tragic death and their own great loss. My heart goes out to them at this trying time,” she said.

Other friends of Diamond took to social media to post still images as a tribute to him.

Said Tiffani Thiessen: “I am deeply saddened by the news of my old co-star @realdustindiamond passing. Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin.”

Mario Lopez wrote: “Dustin, you will be missed my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on.”

Elizabeth Berkley Lauren said: “I’m grateful to have gotten to create with Dustin when we were at the beginning of our dreams coming true. I will hold onto those sweet memories and the laughs we shared. Rest In Peace.”

 "If I ever went, I'd want to go peacefully in my sleep. I wouldn't want to plan my own death." - Dustin Diamond

Comments

What To Read Next