Screech's Low Pay: A Saved by the Bell Tragedy

Dustin Diamond, famously known as Screech on "Saved by the Bell," experienced significant typecasting and financial difficulties following the sitcom's success. Insiders revealed that despite the show's popularity, Diamond received very low residuals, contributing to his declaration of bankruptcy in 2001. His struggles with being eternally associated with his dorky character are explored in "Hollywood Demons."

The series "Hollywood Demons" delves into the challenges Diamond faced, including financial instability that led him to lose his home. Reports indicate that in 2022, a residual check from "Saved by the Bell" amounted to a mere $12.74. His father noted that after agent commissions and taxes, little money remained from his earnings.

Diamond's later years were marked by lawsuits for unpaid taxes and foreclosure proceedings. He also pursued reality television, produced a tell-all documentary, and was sentenced to jail time in 2015. His memoir, "Behind the Bell," published in 2009, generated controversy for its scandalous claims, which Diamond later attributed to a ghostwriter.

As Diamond battled cancer, it was reported that Lark Voorhies was the sole "Saved by the Bell" alum to reach out. Co-star Ed Alonzo reflected on the difficulties child actors face with typecasting, particularly those playing quirky characters, emphasizing the need to fight for their desired career paths.