- Content: SAVED BY THE BELL’s Dustin Diamond Dies at 44 After Brief Battle with Cancer
By Movieguide® Staff
Actor Dustin Diamond, known for his role as Samuel “Screech” Powers on SAVED BY THE BELL, died on Feb. 1 at age 44, just weeks after he announced his battle with stage 4 cancer.
“We are saddened to confirm of Dustin Diamond’s passing on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021 due to carcinoma,” Diamond’s agent said in a statement. “He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago. 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.”
Diamond’s SAVED BY THE BELL co-star Mario Lopez also released a statement via Instagram.
“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…” Lopez wrote.
Diamond had revealed that he was battling stage 4 cancer only three weeks prior. At the time, Lopez announced on Instagram that he would pray for Diamond in his fight to overcome cancer.
“I connected with Dustin earlier this evening and although the news of his diagnosis is heartbreaking, we remain positive that he’ll overcome this,” Lopez wrote in an Instagram post. “Praying for him & his family and for a speedy recovery. God Bless.”
Deadline reported:
Diamond first played Screech on the hit show that ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993, reprising the popular role for subsequent iterations Good Morning, Miss Bell, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, and Saved By the Bell: The College Years. In all, he appeared as Screech for 13 years.
The franchise, which would become a generational touchstone, also starred Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Tiffani Thiessen and Lark Voorhies, with Diamond’s Screech serving as the annoying but likable comic foil to his generally more popular classmates.
Movieguide® is praying for Diamond’s family and hope that Jesus softened Diamond’s heart towards the Gospel before he died.
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