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Dustin Diamond has died aged just 44.
The Saved By The Bell star passed away on Monday after battling stage four cancer, which he had been diagnosed with just three weeks ago.
His rep confirmed the tragic news in a statement, saying: “We are saddened to confirm of Dustin Diamond’s passing on Monday, February 1st, 2021 due to carcinoma.
“He was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago.
“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.”
The rep continued: “We’ve been working alongside Dustin over the last twenty-one years.
“It goes without saying that our relationship cannot be categorized exclusively as business.
“He has become a larger part of our everyday life: A part of our family and friend circle.
“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.
“His actions, though rebukeable, stemmed from loss and the lack of knowledge on how to process that pain properly.
“In actuality, Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh.
“He was able to sense and feel other peoples’ emotions to such a length that he was able to feel them too — a strength and a flaw, all in one.”
The rep added: “Dustin Diamond was a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always left us shocked, but never left us bored.
“We are thankful he trusted us enough to share his genuine, authentic self with our team.
“We wish you knew him in the way that we did.
“We please ask that you give room for privacy to our team and Mr. Diamond’s family during this tragic time, as we grieve and remember the memories spent together.
“This loss is as much stinging as it is sudden.”
In January, Dustin’s team announced he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer and that it was “serious”.
Dustin reportedly had a “huge lump” on his throat, but put off going to the doctors for examination.
He was rushed to a hospital in Florida and was reportedly given treatment straight away, after he revealed his “whole body was in pain”.
The actor lost his mother to breast cancer and after finding out about his illness, the star reportedly had a biopsy done in order to find out what type of cancer was in his body.
Sadly, the famous actor didn’t manage to make it through after undergoing gruelling chemotherapy.
Dustin found fame on the show Saved by the Bell in 1988, which became a Disney Channel classic.
He was also part of the 1992 movie Saved By The Bell: Hawaiian Style and the 1993 sequel series Saved By The Bell: The College Years.
Dustin later starred in the spin-off Saved By The Bell: The New Class, which ran from 1994 to 2000.
He also starred in reality TV shows, including Celebrity Big Brother 2013.
Dustin also made appearances in Celebrity Fit Club, The Weakest Link and Celebrity Boxing 2.
His film roles included cameos in Made, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and American Pie Presents: The Book of Love.
Throughout his career, Dustin shed his child star image with several shocking moments.
In 2006 he directed and released his own sex tape called Screeched – Saved By The Smell, in which he appears to have sex with two women in a hotel room.
But he later admitted that he’d used a “stunt person” in his place to actually have sex in the film.
You can leave your tributes and memories of Dustin in the comments below
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