Saved By The Bell star Dustin Diamond’s dad was ‘upset’ by late son’s allegations about earnings

Mark Diamond, whose late son Dustin played Screech on Saved By The Bell, has opened up about the strain Dustin’s career put on their relationship.

Dustin Diamond’s father was “upset” by allegations he mishandled his son’s earnings.

The late Saved By The Bell actor, who played Samuel ‘Screech’ Powers in the show, had claimed he fell on hard times financially as he accused his parents of misusing his earnings, which they were tasked with handling as most of the classic sitcom was filmed before he turned 18.

Speaking in the After The Bell episode of Investigation Discovery series Hollywood Demons, Mark said: “It really made me upset.

“And I told him, ‘Why are you throwing me under the bus, when I can’t pop myself on television and go, ‘Uh, no!'”

Mark claimed the situation wasn’t as simple as Dustin, who died aged 44 in 2021, made it seem in the media.

He added: “Dustin’s agent would take out her 10-percent commission. Anything left over, we had to cover certain things, like taxes, gasoline, obviously, headshots.

“Every fan letter wanted the same things — ‘Can you send us an 8×10 picture, autographed?’ Thousands of letters.

“See, we had to pay for that. This didn’t leave much money for us to do anything. In fact, nothing.”

Dustin had reiterated his claim in 2015, when he called the situation “a shame”.

He told FOX6 Milwaukee at the time: “My parents wasted so much of my hard work. A lot of my youth.”

In the docuseries, a different picture is painted of a much more complicated situation.

Dan Block, who became Dustin’s friend in the late 2010s, said: “His dad gave [his career] up to make sure Dustin became successful.”

Elsewhere in the programme, Denise Simon, a child star manager, explained how there is a strain on the bond between the stars and their parents.

She said: “Look, it’s tough. I do feel bad for parents. But the money — I think it really messes up that sacred relationship between a child and parent.”

Tricia Voorhies, whose daughter Lark Voorhies played Screech’s crush Lisa Turtle, also reflected on the difficult position the parents were put in.

She explained: “You feel fragile and you feel vulnerable, so you don’t feel strong in a position of negotiation, because they are in a position of making a decision that can change your child’s life.”