“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.
Roger Paul, Agent
(CMR) BREAKING: “Saved by the Bell” actor Dustin Diamond, 44, has died after a three-week fight with cancer, according to his representative. Diamond was best known for playing Screech on the hit sitcom, which aired from 1989 to 1993.
Sources indicated he died Monday morning after the brief battle with Stage 4 carcinoma.
At age 11, Diamond landed the role of Screech on the pilot of Good Morning, Miss Bliss in 1988. He portrayed Screech for 13 episodes.
In a unique twist, the character was both a hopeless dork and the best friend of the coolest kid in school, Zack Morris. Good Morning, Miss Bliss lasted just one season before it was retooled as Saved by the Bell in 1989. Half the cast was let go, but Screech survived the transition and soon became a favorite of the young Saturday morning audience that quickly turned the show into a generational touchstone. The role lasted until 2000.
He reprised the role several times for numerous spinoffs including Saved by the Bell: The College Years show in 1993/94 and Saved by the Bell: The New Class from 1994 to 2000.
In 2009, Diamond he wrote a tell-all book Behind the Bell where he portrayed his castmates in unflattering ways. He later claimed that it was written by a ghostwriter the most salacious stories were completely untrue. Six years later, he faced some legal troubles, serving three months in jail for stabbing a man during a 2014 altercation at a bar in Wisconsin. He filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and released a sex tape that year which he shared was his biggest regret.
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