Dustin Neil Diamond (January 7, 1977 – February 1, 2021)^[1] was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is best known for portraying Samuel "Screech" Powers throughout the Saved by the Bell franchise.^[2]

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Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Dustin Diamond
Diamond in October 2012
Born	Dustin Neil Diamond (1977-01-07)January 7, 1977 San Jose, California, U.S.
Died	February 1, 2021(2021-02-01) (aged 44) Cape Coral, Florida, U.S.
Occupations	Actor director comedian
Years active	1987–2021
Spouse	Jennifer Misner ​ ​ (m. 2009; sep. 2013)​

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Diamond was born in San Jose, California, the son of Jaimee and Mark Diamond.^[3][4] His father taught digital electronics for a computer processing firm, and his mother was a computer operator for Pacific Bell.^[5] Diamond was Jewish^[6] and attended Zion Lutheran School.^[7]

Diamond began acting as a child. He became known for playing Samuel "Screech" Powers on the television show Saved by the Bell, a role he played for close to thirteen years from its beginning as Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1988–89) through its final incarnation, Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1994–2000). Continuing the series into college, Saved by the Bell: The College Years shows most of the cast transplanted into not only the same college, but also the same college dormitory, where Screech continued his typical misadventures. The College Years was canceled after one season. Diamond returned to Bayside High as Principal Belding's assistant in The New Class episodes, remaining with the show until its cancellation.^[8]

Diamond was a fan of professional wrestling. He appeared at Memphis Championship Wrestling in April 2000. He was a part of a skit with The Kat where he was beaten up by Chip Diver, the Fabulous Rocker, and Dannie B.^[25]

On September 18, 2002, he appeared on an NWA-TNA's Asylum weekly pay-per-view. Billed as Screech, he challenged TNA's bellkeeper, Tiny the Bellkeeper, to a boxing match. Screech won by knockout in 42 seconds.^[26]

In 2008, Diamond was a contestant on Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling, broadcast on CMT.^[27]

Diamond was a special guest referee for a match at Celebrity Big Bang Wrestling, Mistress Devon James vs Susan Finkelstein on July 22, 2010.^[25]

On February 11, 2011, Diamond teamed with Jordan McEntrye and Knight Wagner, losing to MsChif, Marion Fontaine and Krotch in an intergender match at AAW in Merrionette Park, Illinois. On March 17, 2011, he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke, Izzy Slapawitz and Doink the Clown to beat Virgil, Ashley Sixx, Celine Jean and Sheena at TWE Rethinking Rumble in Vaughan, Ontario. He lost his final match in a tag during the main event of FTW Summer of Synn, in Ronkonkoma, New York, on July 7, 2012.^[26]

In 2001, Diamond filed for bankruptcy in California. He moved to Port Washington, Wisconsin, in 2003.^[28] On June 13, 2006, he asked listeners of The Howard Stern Show to visit his website and purchase a T-shirt, reading "I paid $15.00 to save Screeech's house" (spelling "Screech" with an extra E for copyright reasons). He said he hoped to sell 30,000 shirts in order to raise $250,000 and avoid foreclosure on his house.^[29] Diamond moved to Florida in 2018,^[30] and put his house in Port Washington up for sale the following year.^[28]

He reportedly married longtime girlfriend Jennifer Misner in 2009, separated in 2013 and later divorced, although his death certificate lists him as having never married.^[31] They did not have any children.^[32][33]

On December 26, 2014, Diamond was arrested in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, for possession of a switchblade knife, which he was alleged to have pulled during a bar altercation in which a man was stabbed.^[34][35] Amanda Schutz, his fiancée,^[36] was found guilty of disorderly conduct and fined $500.^[37] On May 29, 2015, he was convicted of two misdemeanors: carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct. He was cleared of the most serious charge, recklessly endangering public safety.^[38] On June 25, he was sentenced to four months in jail.^[39] He served three months and was released on probation. His probation agent later determined that he had violated his terms and he was arrested again in May 2016.^[40]

In early January 2021, Diamond was diagnosed with extensive stage four small cell carcinoma of the lungs.^[41] Despite completing one round of chemotherapy in Cape Coral, Florida,^[42] he died from the disease on February 1, 2021, at age 44.^[43][44]