Tori Spelling posted a touching tribute to his first on-screen love, Dustin Diamond, after he passed away from stage 4 cancer on Monday.
The “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress starred alongside Diamond in “Saved by the Bell” in 1990 as Screech’s girlfriend Violet Bickerstaff.
“My first love on the screen, Dustin Diamond got his angel wings today,” Spelling, 47, started a long caption next to a photo of the pair in the series. “Before there was David and Donna, there were Screech and Violet. Dustin was my first kiss on the screen. “
“He welcomed me with open arms on the set of ‘Saved By the Bell’,” she continued. “As you can imagine, being the newcomer to a successful program was overwhelming for a 14-year-old girl.
“He not only showed me things, but he made sure that I was always okay. A young gentleman. He was kind, smart and always made everyone laugh. “
She added that Diamond was a great scene partner and a very good guy, but the pair did not keep in touch, occasionally meeting at events.
“I am happy that he is in pain,” she concluded. “He is an icon for me professionally and personally. RIP Samuel, love, your Violet. ”
Diamond died at age 44, just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.