He was 44 years old.
A leading actor and comedian, Diamond found fame playing Samuel “Screech” Powers for more than a decade in the “Saved by the Bell” franchise.
The teen series was recently reimagined by Peacock streaming service with some of the original stars, though not Diamond.
He sparked controversy with his 2009 book “Behind the Bell,” in which Diamond shared behind-the-scenes stories about the filming of the series with some of his less-than-flattering stories to his side.
He also faced some legal issues: he served three months in prison for stabbing a man during a 2014 altercation at a Wisconsin bar.
The actor has appeared on several reality shows over the years, including “Celebrity Fit Club”, “Celebrity Boxing 2” and “Celebrity Championship Wrestling”.
“I was deeply saddened by the death of Dustin Diamond, a true comic genius,” tweeted Gosselaar. “My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Looking back on our time working together, I will miss those bright, raw sparks that only he could produce. A cake in his face, my companion.”
“Dustin, you’ll miss my husband,” Lopez wrote on Instagram. “The fragility of this life is something that should never be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue.”