The late Dustin Diamond ‘would’ve loved’ the ‘tasteful and respectful’ tribute, which will air during season two premiere of Peacock’s Saved By the Bell revival.
In August, the former child star’s best friend – Insurance King president Dan Block – flew to Los Angeles to help producers and head writers honor his legacy with an episode and highlight reel.
‘It was awesome watching the filming process of Saved by the bell. Can’t wait to see the episode. #dustindiamond,’ the Illinois native posted on Instagram at the time.
RIP: The late Dustin Diamond ‘would’ve loved’ the ‘tasteful and respectful’ tribute, which will air during season two premiere of Peacock’s Saved By the Bell revival (pictured in 2016)
Dan originally met Dustin in the late 2010s and he was by his side on February 1 when he passed away, age 44, from stage IV small cell carcinoma of the lungs.
Diamond was famously not invited to participate in season one and Block told TMZ on Sunday that he ‘hid his illness’ from executive producer Franco Bario when he first approached him about season two.
‘I knew we wanted to do more than just putting a picture of him up at the end,’ showrunner Tracey Wigfield told Variety last week.
‘It would have been wrong to not acknowledge that in a real way and to not have our OG characters mourning this character that we’ll never get to see again.
‘Can’t wait to see the episode #dustindiamond’: In August, the former child star’s best friend – Insurance King president Dan Block (2-R) – flew to Los Angeles to help producers and head writers honor his legacy with an episode and highlight reel
Gone too soon: The Illinois native (R) met Dustin in the late 2010s and he was by his side on February 1 when he passed away, age 44, from stage IV small cell carcinoma of the lungs
‘That, I wanted to put on the screen, but I just wanted to make sure we were being as sensitive as possible. There was a real guy who had people who loved him. You don’t want to make any jokes or talk about it in any way that might hurt anyone’s feelings.’
Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Tiffani Thiessen, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Lark Voorhies all return to remember their castmate in the 10-episode second season of Saved by the Bell, which premieres November 24 on Peacock.
The California native played geek Samuel ‘Screech’ Powers for four years on the nineties NBC sitcom as well as five more TV shows – Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Hang Time, and Robot Chicken.
Dustin last appeared onscreen playing himself in a 2017 episode of demonic Adult Swim series Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell.
Too late: Diamond was famously not invited to participate in season one and Block told TMZ on Sunday that he ‘hid his illness’ from executive producer Franco Bario when he first approached him about season two
Showrunner Tracey Wigfield (2-L) told Variety last week: ‘I just wanted to make sure we were being as sensitive as possible. There was a real guy who had people who loved him. You don’t want to make any jokes or talk about it in any way that might hurt anyone’s feelings’
Premieres November 24 on Peacock! (from L-R) Lark Voorhies, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar all return to remember their castmate in the 10-episode second season of Saved by the Bell
Diamond was the fourth housemate to be evicted in the 12th season of CBS reality show Celebrity Big Brother in 2013.
But over the last 20 years, the 6ft funnyman has become more known for filing for bankruptcy, releasing the sex tape Screeched, and penning the tell-all Behind The Bell.
In 2016, Dustin spent four months in jail for disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon during a 2014 Wisconsin bar fight.
Defining role: The California native (3-R) famously played geek Samuel ‘Screech’ Powers for four years on the nineties NBC sitcom
Spin-offs! Dustin reprised his role in five more TV shows – Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Saved by the Bell: The College Years (pictured in 1993), Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Hang Time, and Robot Chicken