Dustin Diamond, best known for playing Samuel “Screech” Powers on “Saved by the Bell,” has died. He had recently announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
Diamond, 44, was taken to a hospital in Florida early in January, days after he started to feel unwell. He learned it was stage 4 small cell carcinoma.
He underwent his first round of chemo after his diagnosis.
“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,” reads a statement from Diamond’s representatives.
They confirm Diamond died Monday morning.
“Dustin Diamond was a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always left us shocked, but never left us bored,” the statement reads.
Diamond played the iconic “Screech” character for 13 years, through various spin-offs and reboots of the “Saved by the Bell” series. He also made appearances in various reality tv shows.
