Dustin Diamond, known for playing the lovable geek Samuel “Screech” Powers on the hit sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” died on Monday morning in a Florida hospital. He was 44.
He was diagnosed with a virulent carcinoma only three weeks ago.
Diamond began his career with roles in the TV movie “Yogi’s Great Escape” in 1987 and won his breakout role the following year. The actor played Screech in Good Morning, Miss Bliss for 13 episodes. The show was the basis for “Saved by the Bell,” which Diamond acted in until 1992.