Late Dustin Diamond reportedly earned surprisingly small residual payments from reruns of the hit sitcom Saved by the Bell before his death in 2021 at age 44 following a battle with lung cancer.
On a recent episode of Hollywood Demons, Diamond’s longtime friend Dan Block revealed copies of residual checks the actor received for his role as Samuel “Screech” Powers. One check from 2002 reportedly totaled just $12.74, highlighting the financial struggles Diamond faced despite starring in one of the most recognizable teen shows of the 1990s.
Block, who said he was close to Diamond during the final decade of his life, explained that the actor often spoke about money problems and claimed he never truly benefited from the success of the series. According to Block, Diamond alleged that much of his childhood earnings had been mishandled by his parents. The actor himself made similar claims publicly in past interviews, saying his family had squandered much of the money he earned as a child star.
Diamond’s father, Mark Diamond, denied those accusations during the documentary and said he was hurt by his son’s comments. He explained that much of Dustin’s income went toward professional expenses, including commissions, taxes, promotional materials, and fan requests, leaving little extra money behind.
The documentary also explored the harsh realities many young actors faced in Hollywood during the 1990s. Talent manager Denise Simon explained that inexperienced child actors and their parents often had little negotiating power when signing contracts for major television roles.
Although Mark-Paul Gosselaar later admitted the cast had accepted poor financial deals early in their careers, the show became a cultural phenomenon. Still, Diamond struggled financially for years afterward, even resorting to fundraising efforts and controversial projects to stay afloat.
Despite the hardships, Diamond remained forever linked to the beloved character of Screech, a role that made him famous and left a lasting mark on pop culture.
