Dustin Diamond, ‘Saved by the Bell’ actor often embroiled in scandal, dies at 44
Dustin Diamond in Celebrity Big Brother house at Elstree Studios on September 6, 2013 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images/TNS)
Dustin Diamond, the former child star who most notably played curly-haired geek Samuel “Screech” Powers on NBC’s wholesome 1990s sitcom “Saved by the Bell” and then became infamous for a number of post-show scandals, has died. He was 44.
Diamond, who revealed on Jan. 14 that he had Stage 4 cancer, died in a Florida hospital Monday morning as arrangements were being made to move him to hospice care, his talent agent, Roger Paul, told The Times. Diamond had small-cell carcinoma that metastasized in his lungs after originating elsewhere in his body.
Dustin Diamond, the former child star who most notably played curly-haired geek Samuel “Screech” Powers on NBC’s wholesome 1990s sitcom “Saved by the Bell” and then became infamous for a number of post-show scandals, has died. He was 44.
Diamond, who revealed on Jan. 14 that he had Stage 4 cancer, died in a Florida hospital Monday morning as arrangements were being made to move him to hospice care, his talent agent, Roger Paul, told The Times. Diamond had small-cell carcinoma that metastasized in his lungs after originating elsewhere in his body.
“He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago,” Paul added in a statement. “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.”