The child star was best known to a generation of fans for his portrayal of the quirky-yet-lovable high schooler Samuel \u201cScreech\u201d Powers, one of six main characters on…<\/b>
\nUS actor Dustin Diamond, who spent 13 seasons portraying the nerdy pal of character Zach Morris, has died after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He was 44 years old. Roger Paul, Diamond\u2019s longtime talent agent, confirmed the news in a statement to the Washington Post that explained the child star had died Monday from carcinoma. \u201cHe was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago,\u00a0\u00bb the statement notes. \u00ab\u00a0In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution.\u201d TMZ was the first to report the development and reported that Diamond was \u201ctaken off a breathing machine in an attempt to get him to hospice care.\u201d The outlet also indicated that Diamond\u2019s partner was by his side at the time. Incidentally, TMZ was also among the first to report that Diamond had been hospitalized several weeks ago in Florida, where health professionals ultimately diagnosed him with late stage cancer. Diamond\u2019s death has prompted an outpouring of shock from fans and eulogies from celebrities, including his castmates from \u201cSaved by the Bell.\u201d Fellow castmate Mario Lopez, who took up the role of the series\u2019 jock AC Slater, offered his condolences and prayers to the Diamond family. Tiffani Thiessen, who starred as Kelly Kapowski on the sitcom, lamented her former co-star\u2019s passing on Instagram, writing, \u201cLife is extremely fragile and it\u2019s something we should never take for granted. God speed [sic] Dustin.\u201d In his later years, Diamond appeared on various reality shows, including \u201cCelebrity Boxing 2,\u201d \u201cCelebrity Big Brother\u201d and \u201cCelebrity Fit Club,\u201d among others. At one point, Diamond released his own sex tape; however, he later revealed that a \u201cstunt person\u201d had actually stood in for him, and that his face was digitally added. In 2015, Diamond had a run-in with law enforcement officials after he was convicted of disorderly conduct for stabbing a bar patron in Wisconsin. He served three months behind bars. \u201cIn actuality, 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\u2019 emotions to such a length that he was able to feel them too – a strength and a flaw, all in one.\u201d<\/p>\n