Dustin Diamond, Best Known For Playing 'Screech' On 'Saved By The Bell' Passes Away Suddenly At 44

Dustin Diamond, best known for playing Screech on 80s and 90s sitcom Saved by the Bell, died today from small-cell lung carcinoma. He was 44.

Diamond had been in the hospital for just under 3 weeks with the illness. According to his reps, the actor's cancer "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 entered the public eye as the impossibly dorky geek who was inexplicably friends with the beautiful, popular high school clique that formed the center of Saved by the Bell. He was often the butt of jokes and schemes by the show's main character, Zack Morris. He became something of a black sheep among the cast after the show's cancellation, nailing cameo roles and being a notably combative participant in the 2007 season of Celebrity Fit Club.

In 2009, Diamond published a memoir called Behind the Bell which painted an unflattering portrait of his castmates and their activities. The memoir also stated that Diamond had had sex with over 2,000 women. He later walked away from some of those claims, telling the OWN Network that the book was ghostwritten and the claims were exaggerated based on minor statements he made from interviews.

Diamond was not invited to be a part of the 2020 revival of Saved By The Bell, which featured every other cast member from the show's original run reprising their roles.

Online, tributes poured out from commenters remembering the impact Screech had in popular culture.

That’s really fucking sad. The first ‘geek’ everyone rooted for in a show that everyone my generation watched. Rest in Peace @dustindiamond https://t.co/yx72vhY5qS

— South Coast Bantam (@CraigAndrew3) February 1, 2021

Devastating news… Loved Screech. May his soul rest in peace. https://t.co/GtZA1RsQhW

— WhoisElla (@TDM60975980) February 1, 2021

Such sad news. I loved him as Screech in #SavedByTheBell, his funny one liners always made me laugh. RIP Dustin 💔😢😯 #RIPDustinDiamond https://t.co/gCtnH1KDB7

— Abby Clare 💙 (@Abby_Claree) February 1, 2021