Just a few weeks after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, Dustin Diamond reportedly died on Monday, Feb. 1. Per TMZ, Diamond was in the process of being moved to hospice care after two weeks of hospitalization following his diagnosis. He was 44 years old.
Diamond was best known as Screech from Saved By The Bell, a role he played from 1987-2000. There, he stole the show as the nerdy, awkward sidekick, and he continued to have a major role in the spinoffs that followed, including Saved By The Bell: The College Years, Saved By The Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, and Saved By The Bell: The New Class, which ended in 2000.
It might have been Diamond's best known work, as the actor never really broke out of the Saved By The Bell shadow, and repeated stated in interviews that he felt ostracized by the rest of the cast. "I hadn't talked to most of the cast mates in a long time," Diamond said during an appearance on The Dr. Oz Show in 2016. Though he said that he was still in touch with Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins, "Mark Paul [Gosselaar] I haven't seen since I was 16 years old."
Still, there was hope of a bigger reconciliation, especially thanks to Peacock's Saved By The Bell reboot. Gosselar, Tiffani Thiessen, and Lark Voorhies all made guest appearances in Season 1, while Lopez and Elizabeth Berkeley starred. And, while promoting the reboot, Berkeley said she'd be interested to "explore" a possible Diamond cameo in future seasons. (Season 1 explained that Screech was living on the International Space Station.) While that won't be possible anymore, but we'll always have Diamond's classic Saved By The Bell episodes to remember him by.
Here are five iconic Saved By The Bell episodes to watch while you celebrate Diamond and Screech.
Season 1, Episode 3 — "The Gift"
Screech suddenly has the power to tell the future after being hit by lightening in this Season 1 episode. Zack uses Screech's sudden ability to place bets against Slater, including the promise of acing a history test. But like all good things, Screech's premonitions came to an end and Zack fails his test. Screech was always a bit of a punching bag for the other characters on Saved By The Bell, so it's nice to see him finally one step ahead, even if it was temporary.
Season 2, Episode 1 — "The Prom"
Screech deserved a lot more love on Saved By The Bell. And, in "The Prom," fans got to see a bit more of his romantic side when he convinced Lisa to go on a trial date with him. Spoiler: It doesn't last. But he's soon to find a real connection in...
Season 2, Episode 18 — "The Glee Club"
Zack and friends join the glee club in hopes of wining a trip to Hawaii. Unfortunately, things go awry for the Bayside students (they always do) and the only person worth the spotlight is Violet Bickerstaff, Screech's girlfriend (played by Tori Spelling). Unfortunately, Violet quits the glee club after Screech embarrasses himself in front of her uppity parents and they forbid her to see him. But after going out of his way to make her feel comfortable on stage, her parents allow them to date and everyone lives happily ever after. (Well, kind of. Spelling only appears in one more episode in the series.)
Season 3, Episode 7 — "Check Your Mate"
Screech struggles in a chess tournament and in his relationship with Violet (Tori Spelling) in "Check Your Mate." The episode gives Screen a chance to really shine, showing off his intelligence and his do-gooder nature. It's also a really sweet episode for those who love Screech and Zack's friendship and Screech and Violet's relationship (even though this is the end of the latter).
Season 4, Episode 3 — Screech's Spaghetti Sauce
Screech creates a spaghetti sauce people can't stop talking about (as a teenager does). Unfortunately, he learns the price of fame when the rich girl at school, Robin (played by Soleil Moon Fry), starts dating him, only to steal his sought-after recipe.
Saved By The Bell: The College Years, Episode 9 — "Screech Love"
Screech finds himself in a love triangle with Zack and tennis champ, Linda, after he bonds with her as her tutor in "Screech Love." Zack might love Screech, but he's always discounted him as a romantic rival, so it's fun to finally having him see Screech's true lady-killer potential.
All episodes of Saved By The Bell and Saved By The Bell: The College Years are currently available to stream on Peacock, as well as Saved By The Bell: Hawaiian Style and Saved By The Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas.
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Images: Screenshots via Peacock