He was 44 years old.
An actor and backup comedian, Diamond gained fame by playing Samuel “Screech” Powers for more than a decade in the “Saved by the Bell” franchise.
The teen series was recently reimagined by the 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 filming the series, with some of his stories less than flattering to his costarians.
He also faced some legal issues, serving three months in prison for stabbing a man during a 2014 altercation at a bar in Wisconsin.
The actor has appeared in several reality shows over the years, including “Celebrity Fit Club”, “Celebrity Boxing 2” and “Celebrity Championship Wrestling”.
“It saddens me to hear about the passing of Dustin Diamond, a true comedian genius,” Gosselaar wrote on Twitter. “My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Looking back on our time together, I will miss those raw, bright sparks that only he was able to produce. A pie in front of you, my comrade. “
“Dustin, you will miss my man,” Lopez wrote on Instagram. “The fragility of this life is something that should never be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue.”