‘Saved by the Bell’ cast members react to death of Dustin Diamond
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(NewsNation Now) — After Dustin Diamond’s death was announced Monday, fellow “Saved by the Bell” cast members took to social media to share their condolences.
The 44-year-old actor, who played Screech on “Saved by the Bell,” died after a three-week fight with cancer, his agent Roger Paul confirmed to NewsNation Monday. He was undergoing chemotherapy earlier this year.
“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dustin Diamond, a true comedic genius,” wrote Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who starred as Zack Morris on “Saved by the Bell.” “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.”
Mario Lopez, who played A.C. Slater on the series, said Diamond “will be missed.”
“The fragility of life is something never to be taken for granted,” he wrote.
Tiffani Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski on the series, also took to Twitter to express her condolences. She echoed Lopez in pointing out the “extremely fragile” nature of life.
According to Page Six, Diamond recently said his dying wish was “meet his idol Justin Chancellor, the British bassist from heavy metal band Tool,” and to visit Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World in Florida.
“Saved by the Bell” aired from 1989 to 1993, and its spinoffs included “Saved by the Bell: The College Years,” “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” and “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” which Diamond starred in. A sequel was launched on Peacock last fall featuring many from the original cast, including Elizabeth Berkley, Lopez, Thiessen and Gosselaar. Diamond was not included.
FILE – In this Jan. 24, 2011 file photo, Dustin Diamond attends the SYFY premiere of “Mega Python vs. Gatoroid” at The Ziegfeld Theater in New York. Diamond died Monday after a three-week fight with carcinoma, according to his representative. He was 44. Diamond, best known for playing Screech on the hit ’90s sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” was hospitalized last month in Florida and his team disclosed later he had cancer. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, File) 
This 1992 image released by NBC shows actor Dustin Diamond as Samuel Powers, better known as Screech” from the series “Saved by the Bell.” Diamond died Monday after a three-week fight with carcinoma, according to his representative. He was 44. Diamond was hospitalized last month in Florida and his team disclosed later he had cancer. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank via AP) 
This image released by NBC shows actor Dustin Diamond as Samuel Powers, better known as Screech” from the 1990’s series “Saved by the Bell.” Diamond died Monday after a three-week fight with carcinoma, according to his representative. He was 44. Diamond was hospitalized last month in Florida and his team disclosed later he had cancer. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank via AP) 
LAS VEGAS – JANUARY 12: Actor Dustin Diamond walks through the Adult Video News Adult Entertainment Expo at the Sands Expo Center January 12, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The three-day AVN expo is the largest adult entertainment trade show in the world, drawing over 29,000 people and featuring close to 340 vendors. The show runs through tomorrow. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 
LAS VEGAS – JANUARY 13: Actor Dustin Diamond arrives at the 24th annual Adult Video News Awards Show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center January 13, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
He starred in a handful of reality television series including the 5th season of “Celebrity Fit Club,” “The Weakest Link” and “Celebrity Boxing 2.” In December 2013, Diamond appeared on an episode of OWN’s “Where Are They Now?” and became a house member in the 12th season of “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Diamond was sued several times for delinquent taxes and in foreclosure proceedings for missing mortgage payments. He has appeared on reality TV shows, made a sex tape and produced a tell-all documentary on Lifetime TV called “The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story.” In 2015, he was sentenced to serve four months in jail for his part in a Wisconsin barroom stabbing.
“Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh. He was able to sense and feel other peoples’ emotions to such a length that he was able to feel them too — a strength and a flaw, all in one,” said his manager Roger Paul.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
