Dustin Diamond: Tori Spelling remembers first onscreen kiss with Screech star in Saved by the Bell

Tori Spelling has shared a tribute to her Saved by the Bell co-star Dustin Diamond, who has died from lung cancer aged 44.

Spelling starred as Violet Bickerstaff, a newcomer at Bayside High who wins the heart of Diamond’s character Samuel “Screech” Powers, in season two of the popular US sitcom.

In her tribute, the actor referenced her famous kiss with Brian Austin Green’s David Silver on Beverly Hills, 90210, in which she starred after appearing in Saved by the Bell.

“My first onscreen love Dustin Diamond got his Angel wings today,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Before there was David and Donna there was Screech and Violet,” she continued. “Dustin was my first on-screen kiss. He welcomed me with open arms onto the set of Saved By the Bell.

“As one can imagine being the newbie on a hit show was overwhelming for a 14-year-old girl. He not only showed me around but made sure I was always ok. Such a young gentleman.”

Spelling went on to praise Diamond as “a great scene partner” who was kind, smart, and “always making everyone laugh”.

“He was a really good guy,” she said. “I'm sad after the show we never had much contact aside from occasionally running into each other at events. I'm glad he's out of pain. He's an icon to me professionally and personally. RIP Samuel love, your Violet.”

Tributes have poured in for Diamond on social media following news of his death.

His co-star Mario Lopez, who played AC Slater on the teen sitcom, wrote: “Dustin, you will be missed my man. The fragility of this life is something never to be taken for granted. Prayers for your family will continue on.”

Tiffani Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, echoed Lopez’s sentiments, adding: “I am deeply saddened by the news of my old co-star @realdustindiamond passing. Life is extremely fragile and it’s something we should never take for granted. God speed Dustin.”

“Dustin Diamond was a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always left us shocked, but never left us bored,” the actor’s representative told The Independent.

“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.”

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