Dustin Diamond, who played lovable geek Samuel “Screech” Powers in the ’90s hit sitcom Saved By the Bell, has reportedly been hospitalized in Florida.
A spokesman for the 44-year-old actor told TODAY that details surrounding his hospitalization are unknown at the time, but that he was taken for tests after experiencing body pain. “It’s serious, but we don’t know how serious yet. He’s going for testing. He hasn’t been feeling well,” the spokesperson said. “He’s at an undisclosed hospital in Florida. We are hoping for a speedy recovery.”
A member of Diamond’s team spoke to Fox News and shared that Diamond fears that the illness could be cancer. “He’s always going to remain upbeat…that’s just who he is in that respect,” the rep said while adding that Diamond is “scared but hopeful.”
Dustin Diamond is best known for his role as Screech, a character he played for nearly thirteen years starting with Good Morning, Miss Bliss in the late ’80s through Saved By the Bell and the show’s spinoffs. Diamond remained in the spotlight after Saved By the Bell wrapped, pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian. In the years since, he has made numerous television appearances including Celebrity Fit Club, The Weakest Link, Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Championship Wrestling.
The news of Diamond’s hospitalization comes two months after a Saved By the Bell reboot was released. All of the show’s main characters appeared in the reboot, including Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zach Morris), Mario Lopez (A.C. Slater), Tiffani Theissen (Kelly Kapowski), and Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie Spano). Diamond didn’t make an appearance, but made it clear that he was opening to reprising the role of Screech if he were to be invited.
“I’m one of the few people who was in every episode,” Diamond told TMZ prior to the reboot airing. “How do you have Saved By the Bell without Screech? It seems like there’s a missed opportunity there.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dustin Diamond and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.