Television

‘Saved by the Bell’ Actor Dustin Diamond Remembered as ‘True Comedic Genius’

by admin 0 Comments

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

Dustin Diamond, best known for his role as Screech in the hit sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” died on Monday morning following a hospitalization in January. The actor, who had Stage 4 lung cancer, was 44.

Following news of the actor’s death, co-stars and other prominent entertainment figures flooded social media with tributes, reflecting on how Diamond’s character in “Saved by the Bell” brought them joy in their adolescence and that they “grew up” with the show. “Screech” trended on Twitter, along with the news of Diamond’s death.

Diamond’s “Saved by the Bell” co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar called the actor “a true comedic genius.”

“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dustin Diamond, a true comedic genius,” he tweeted. “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, another “Saved by the Bell” co-star, shared photos of him with the actor, writing, “Dustin, you will be missed my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on…” Lopez also paid tribute to Diamond, saying, “he was like a fun, goofy little brother.”

Tiffani Thiessen, another co-star on the series, shared similar sentiments. “Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin,” she tweeted.

Lark Voorhies, also on “Saved by the Bell,” told Variety in a statement “Words cannot express the grief that I am feeling right now. Dustin and I had a warm and special friendship, he was a caring gentleman, and my memories of him will always be cherished. I am so very sorry he is gone. But it’s exceptionally sad for his close loved ones who have to deal with his tragic death and their own great loss. My heart goes out to them at this trying time.”

Elizabeth Berkley, who played Jessie on “Saved by the Bell,” said she was grateful to have known and worked with the actor at the beginning of his journey.

Peacock TV, which revived the series, also paid tribute to the actor in an Instagram post: “[Diamond] will forever be a part of the Bayside family.”

Following his time on “Saved by the Bell,” Diamond was arrested in 2014 for stabbing a man during a bar altercation. He served three months in prison in 2015.

“We are aware that Dustin is not considered reputable by most. He’s had a history of mishaps, of unfortunate events. We want the public to understand that he was not intentionally malevolent,” his agent, Roger Paul, said in a statement. “He — much like the rest of those who act out and behave poorly — had undergone a great deal of turmoil and heartache. His actions, though rebukeable, stemmed from loss and the lack of knowledge on how to process that pain properly. In 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’ emotions to such a length that he was able to feel them too—a strength and a flaw, all in one.”

Screenwriter Brian Lynch alluded to Diamond’s criminal history, writing that he wished he could have had “a second act where he turned everything around.”

Cyrus Bolooki, drummer of rock band New Found Glory, said he will miss Diamond’s “random texts/videos of the most hilarious jokes” and lamented that he and the actor never played together. “Hope you get to keep playing music up in Heaven,” he wrote.

See more tributes below:

This article was originally published by Variety.com. Read the original article here.
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

Articles You May Like

Alix Earle Doubles Down on the Return of Skinny Jeans
George Lopez’s Final Stand-Up Special to Premiere in February
Sundance Programmers Say Political Documentaries Are Still Crucial, Despite Challenging Market and Right-Wing Hits
Barry Levinson on Capturing America’s Political Divide in Doc Series ‘Bucks County’: ‘This Is Not a Series About Heroes and Villains’
Miso Film to Adapt Norwegian Bestseller ‘The Cold Song’ for TV, Promotes Christian Rank to Managing Director and Producer

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *