Dustin Diamond’s close friend, Dan Block, is speaking out after the actor’s death and revealing how, even towards the end of his life, Diamond maintained his biting sense of humor.
Block talked to Fox News about his bond with Diamond and what the “Saved by the Bell” star’s final wishes were.
“Yes, being cremated was one of his final wishes,” revealed Block. “He didn’t want to be messed up in the afterlife. He didn’t want to have a headstone. He didn’t want to have a ceremony, he didn’t want to have a memorial. He just wanted to leave in peace. “
“He used to say ‘trust the dust’. It’s kind of funny because now it’s dust. He had a wicked and twisted sense of humor, “added Block.
STAR ‘SAVED BY THE BELL’ DUSTIN DIAMOND DEAD AT 44 YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE WITH STAGE CANCER 4
According to TMZ, his ashes will be given to his father and girlfriend.
Block said Diamond was still sending him jokes, even when he was nearing the end of his life.
“[Diamond] I was always trying to make people laugh. He was a nice guy. He made some mistakes, but what was so admirable, he just wanted to be normal, “described Block.
Dustin Diamond died on Monday after being diagnosed with stage four cancer of small cell carcinoma.
(Photo by Noel Vasquez / Getty Images)
Block, the president of Insurance King, said the actor avoided going to the doctor because he didn’t want fans to take pictures of him. It almost led him not to know that he had methicillin-resistant MRSA (Staphylococcus aureus) a few years ago.
“[Diamond] lived a life of public scrutiny. He didn’t go to the doctor a few years ago because he didn’t want to be seen, “Block recalled.” He was so concerned about someone taking a picture. Two years ago I took him to the hospital and it ended up being MRSA. He said that going to the doctor saved his life.
“He had a huge wound on his face,” continued Block. “It started small. He always put on makeup. He said, ‘No, I’ll be fine’. It ended up being a skin-eating disease. He called me and said, ‘I don’t feel well.’ He didn’t send me a photo because he didn’t want anything to leak. I went straight to his house, grabbed him and took him to a hospital. “
STAR ‘SAVED BY THE BELL’ DUSTIN DIAMOND DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER
Diamond died on Monday at age 44, not long after being diagnosed with stage four small cell cancer.
Dustin Diamond was best known for playing Screech Powers on ‘Saved by the Bell’.
(Photo by Paul Drinkwater / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The actor called Block when he had a tumor last year, before he knew it was cancer. “He called me and said he was sick with this tumor. When I asked if it was as bad as MRSA, he said ‘it’s worse’ with a laugh. He was always telling jokes,” said Block. “It was a huge tumor. He had it for a while and it was small, but then it burst. He contacted me and when he told me he would have months to live, he told me he was scared.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
On Monday, Diamond’s agent, Roger Paul, said in a statement to Fox News: “He was diagnosed with this brutal and relentless form of malignant cancer just three weeks ago. In that time, he managed to spread quickly throughout the his system, the only mercy displayed was his quick and sharp execution.
“Dustin didn’t suffer. He didn’t have to be in pain. For that, we are grateful,” said Paul.