'Saved by the Bell’ star Dustin Diamond dies of cancer at 44

The actor died on Monday after a three-week fight with carcinoma

Actor Dustin Diamond, pictured in 2007, who has died of cancer at the age of 44. AFP / Getty Images

Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond died on Monday after a three-week fight with carcinoma, according to his representative. He was 44.

"Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful," the actor's spokesman, Roger Paul, said.

Diamond, who is best known for playing Screech in the hit 1990s sitcom, was admitted to hospital in Florida in January, and his team disclosed later that he had cancer.

Former co-star Mario Lopez took to Twitter to say farewell.

Saved by the Bell was broadcast from 1989 to 1993 and its related shows included Saved by the Bell: The College Years; Good Morning, Miss Bliss; and Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which Diamond starred in.

A sequel was launched on Peacock last autumn featuring many of the original cast, including Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Diamond was not included.

He starred in a handful of reality television series, including the fifth season of Celebrity Fit Club, Weakest Link and Celebrity Boxing 2. In December 2013, Diamond appeared on an episode of OWN's Where Are They Now? and became a house member in the 12th season of Celebrity Big Brother.

He also produced a tell-all documentary on Lifetime TV called The Unauthorised Saved by the Bell Story.

Diamond was sued several times over tax bills and in foreclosure proceedings for missing mortgage payments.

In 2015, he was sentenced to four months in jail for his part in a stabbing at a Wisconsin bar.

"Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh. He was able to sense and feel other people's emotions to such a length that he was able to feel them, too – a strength and a flaw, all in one," wrote Paul.