Remembering Screech– 'Saved by the Bell's’ Dustin Diamond Gave a Whole Generation of Kids The License To Be Different

Fans flocked to social media today as the news of Diamond’s passing broke, and many were in disbelief over the news.  In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Diamond’s former Saved by the Bell co-star, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, said: “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.” Another one of his castmates, Maria Lopez, took to Instagram to remember his co-star, 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…”

 

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Tiffani Thiessen, also from Saved by the Bell, said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of my old co-star @realdustindiamond passing. Life is extremely fragile and it's something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin.”

 

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Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton wrote: “Rest In Peace, #DustinDiamond. This feels so surreal. Cancer attacked him hard and fast and took him from this earth at just 44 years old.”

Rest In Peace, #DustinDiamond. This feels so surreal. Cancer attacked him hard and fast and took him from this earth at just 44 years old. 💔 pic.twitter.com/5oeDxPH6Hw

— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) February 1, 2021

And many Twitter users talked about their love of Saved by the Bell and Diamond’s role as Screech on the show. @shaygotjams_ wrote: “my favorite part of watching "saved by the bell" was screech man rip to an amazing actor #dustindiamond.”

my favorite part of watching "saved by the bell" was screech man 😩 rip to an amazing actor #dustindiamond 🙏🏽💕

— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@shaygotjams_) February 1, 2021

And @Bozindaplacel said: “I remember as a kid watching saved by the bell and loving Screech. Rest in Peace #DustinDiamond thank you for the memories.”

I remember as a kid watching saved by the bell and loving Screech. Rest in Peace #DustinDiamond thank you for the memories

— Will Boswinkel (@Bozindaplace) February 1, 2021

@MelissaVargasx wrote: “RIP #DustinDiamond, I can't believe this, I remember him the show I loved "Saved by the bell he was funny guy in that show I laughed so hard… A lot of prayers for his family and friends.”

RIP #DustinDiamond, I can't believe this, I remember him the show I loved "Saved by the bell he was funny guy in that show I laughed so hard…
A lot of prayers for his family and friends 💔

— Melly🌹 (@MelissaVargasx) February 1, 2021

And @x3ChelseaLouise said how much she loved his character, Screech: “Saved By The Bell was literally my childhood. Had the biggest crush ever on Zac Morris but Screech had me laughing in every episode, my favourite was when he dressed as Barbara Bush. RIP Dustin Diamond #dustindiamond.”

Saved By The Bell was literally my childhood 😭 Had the biggest crush ever on Zac Morris but Screech had me laughing in every episode, my favourite was when he dressed as Barbara Bush 😭 RIP Dustin Diamond #dustindiamond pic.twitter.com/jDZ4ek8We7

— Chelsea 👑 (@x3ChelseaLouise) February 1, 2021

Dustin’s Lung Cancer Battle

Diamond went public with his diagnosis in January, after seeking treatment for a lump on his neck. A friend of the actor said that Diamond was resistant to go to the hospital because he was worried that fans would take pictures of him and post them online. After he got checked out by a doctor, Diamond was diagnosed with stage four small cell lung cancer, a particularly aggressive kind of cancer. Diamond completed at least one round of chemotherapy to treat his cancer.

Related: 'Saved by the Bell' Star Dustin Diamond, 44, Told He Has Cancer After Delaying Doc Visit Because He "Was Afraid to Go Out In Public" for Fear a Photo Would be Posted

What Do People With Lung Cancer Need to Know About COVID-19?

Coping with a Cancer Loss

Losing a loved one to cancer, or even a beloved actor from your favorite childhood TV show, can be difficult to cope with. When going through grief, it’s important to give yourself the time, space, and support that you need. Many people find therapy and support groups to be helpful ways to cope with grief.

Related: The Benefit of Support Networks

In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Camila Legaspi spoke about how therapy helped her navigate life after her mom passed away from breast cancer. “Therapy saved my life,” she said. “I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings. The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK.”

"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

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