Saved By The Bell actor Dustin Diamond has died at the age of 44, just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

Dustin – best known for playing Samuel “Screech” Powers in the hit high school sitcom – was taken to hospital in Florida last month after falling ill.

His representative confirmed on Monday that Dustin had died, stating the cause of death was carcinoma. 

“He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago,” a spokesperson said.

“In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution.

“Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”

Dustin played Screech in the original series of Saved By The Bell, which ran between 1989 and 1993, and returned for several follow-up series including Saved By The Bell: The New Class and Saved By The Bell: The College Years.

After Saved By The Bell ended, he made appearances on various reality TV shows, including Celebrity Fit Club and Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling in the US, as well as the UK series Celebrity Big Brother, which he appeared on in 2013.

In 2015, Dustin was sentenced to four months in jail after stabbing a man during a bar brawl in Wisconsin the previous Christmas.

A Saved By The Bell revival launched in 2020, though Dustin was not invited back to reprise his role as Screech. 

His spokesperson added: “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. He – much like the rest of those who act out and behave poorly – had undergone a great deal of turmoil and heartache.”