Saved by the Bell cast tragedies – sad deaths, sex tapes and racy role that killed career

Saved by the Bell first hit screens more than three decades ago, premiering on NBC in 1989.

The show followed a close-knit group of friends as they navigated the hardships of being teenagers at Bayside Highschool. The sitcom instantly became a hit, catapulting young stars such as Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley and Dustin Diamond to international stardom.

The cast headed in different directions after the show ended in 1993, with some experiencing many ups and downs. Exactly two years ago today (February 1), Samuel “Screech” Powers star Diamond passed away at the age of 44.

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But this isn’t the only tragic thing to happen to the cast. From untimely deaths to sex tape scandals, here are some of the saddest details about the Saved by the Bell cast.

Dustin Diamond’s troubled life and death

Thanks to his performance as geeky school outcast Screech, Diamond became a household name in the 90s when she was just 12. But what followed sadly wasn’t a rising career in Hollywood. According to The Mirror, Diamond filed for bankruptcy in 2000, claiming his parents stole his fortune. Six years later, he was forced to sell Screech merchandise to keep his home.

The late star’s money troubles led to him releasing a dirty movie in a bid to earn some quick cash. The film, titled Screeched – Saved By The Smell, appeared to show him having sex with two women in a hotel room. Diamond eventually admitted to using a stunt double for the film. The sex tape didn’t fix his financial issues as Page Six reported that he owed £94,000 in unpaid taxes in 2016.

In 2014, the late star was sentenced to four months in prison after he allegedly stabbed a man on Christmas Day. Two years later, he was incarcerated once again after violating his probation. In 2021, Diamond died after battling an advanced form of lung cancer. Diamond’s representative, Roger Paul, confirmed his death in a statement, branding his cancer as “relentless”.

It read: “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.”

Sex tape scandal

Girl boss Lisa Turtle spent most of her days attracting the hottest boys and fending off Screech’s unwanted advances. Sadly, actress Lark Voorhies wasn’t so lucky in love. In 2015, she tied the knot with Jimmy Green but the pair parted ways after just a few months. The following year, Green attempted to release a sex tape without his ex-wife’s consent.

He even gloated about it, telling Radar Online: “Ain’t nobody seen Lark like that!” Naming his price, he added that he would consider selling it “if someone offered $2million”. Green claimed Voorhies consented to the video, however, she told People: “As far as a sex tape I am not aware of nor have I consented to any sex tape or nude recordings.”

Mental health decline

Voorhies has been open about her mental health in recent years. The 49-year-old was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which she likened to competing voices inside her head. The actress convinced her illness was the reason why she wasn’t included in the Saved by the Bell reunions.

Appearing on Dr. Oz. in February 2020, Voorhies discussed living with the disorder, which is often defined as a chronic illness that consists of sudden mood changes and “symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech.”

After being originally snubbed from the reboot, she expressed her sadness in a statement. The star said: “I have to admit I did feel a bit slighted and hurt when I was not invited to be part of the ‘Saved by the Bell’ reunion, as well as other cast members’ events. Yet, of course, I also realize that having this puzzling disorder may have played a major part in that factual decision.”

She was later invited to appear on the series reboot which aired in 2020. Returning to the talk show later that year, Voorhies opened up about managing the disorder while shooting. She explained: “I put it in a bag and leave it in my room and I come out and do the lines and we do our thing,” adding that acting is what she is “meant to do.”

Tragic death

A summer crush for millions, Kelly Kapowksi was portrayed by Tiffani Thiessen, 50. She was the archetypal American sweetheart, the most popular cheerleader in school and captain of the volleyball team.

But beneath her dazzling smile, Thiessen experienced a devastating loss. During the 90s, the actress was in a relationship with fellow TV star David Strickland. The actor was best known for his role as the boyish rock music reporter Todd Stites in the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan.

The couple were rising stars in Hollywood, but their romance was cut short in 1999. Six months into their relationship, Strickland was found dead in his Las Vegas hotel room at the age of 29, with his cause of death deemed as suicide.

Career-ending role

A liberal with strong views, Jessie Spano was arguably the feminist icon of her time. Elizabeth Berkley went from starring as Jessie, the lifelong friend of Zack, Screech, Lisa and Kelly, to carrying out one of the wildest sex scenes captured on the silver screen.

Berkley, 51, quickly shed her innocent girl image when she left the series to pursue a Hollywood career when she landed the lead role in the controversial film, Showgirls. The film saw her strip completely naked and perform a jaw-dropping, spine-snapping, swimming pool sex scene with co-star Kyle MacLachlan.

She was slammed in the reviews, with Entertainment Weekly saying: “As an actress, Berkley is, to put it mildly, limited. She has exactly two emotions: hot and bothered.” Not only was she dropped by her agent, her Hollywood dreams were crushed.

Berkely, now 51, hasn’t had a major film role since the flop. Despite stunned fans’ reaction to the explicit scenes, Berkley didn’t think it was such a big deal. “It’s a little weird but it’s a role, it’s a part. I was transported to a different person so the nudity factor wasn’t something I concentrated on. It was just an essential part of telling the story,” she told NY Daily News.

She later admitted to feeling like she was pushed out of showbusiness because of the role. “Of course it was disappointing that it didn’t do well, but there was so much cruelty around it,” she told People. “I was bullied. And I didn’t understand why I was being blamed. “

She added: “The job as an actor is to fulfil the vision of the director. And I did everything I was supposed to do. No one associated with the film spoke up on my behalf to protect me. I was left out in the cold and I was a pariah in the industry I had worked so hard for.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk