Diamond began acting as a child. He became known for playing Samuel "Screech" Powers on the television show
Saved by the Bell, a role he played for close to thirteen years from its beginning as
Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1988–89) through its final incarnation,
Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1994–2000). Continuing the series into college,
Saved by the Bell: The College Years shows most of the cast transplanted into not only the same college, but also the same college dormitory, where Screech continued his typical misadventures.
The College Years was canceled after one season. Diamond returned to Bayside High as Principal Belding's assistant in
The New Class episodes, remaining with the show until its cancellation.
Appearances after Saved by the Bell Diamond began doing
stand-up comedy after the end of
Saved by the Bell and toured on and off after that. He was also featured on a number of game and reality shows including
Weakest Link and
Celebrity Boxing 2. Diamond also made several cameo appearances in films, including appearances in
Made (2001) and
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003). causing Walden to lose his temper.
Sex tape In 2006, Diamond directed and released his own celebrity sex tape,
Screeched – Saved by the Smell. According to Melanie McFarland's retelling of a press release, Diamond said the tape got out because he and a group of friends had a "monthly gathering" wherein they exchanged such tapes. The book paints an unflattering portrait of many of Diamond's colleagues and backstage behavior. Some of these claims were repudiated by Diamond's colleagues and questioned by critics. Diamond later commented on the book's content in a December 2013 appearance on an
Oprah: Where Are They Now? segment on the
OWN Network, in which he stated that the book was
ghostwritten by an author who simply interviewed him and compiled the book from his answers. He claimed that many parts of the book, such as allegations of teen sex and drug use, were fabricated from very minor statements he made during the interviews.
Other work Diamond was also a musician and formed an
alternative metal band called Salty The Pocketknife. Diamond played bass and wrote much of the music as well. Shortly after recording their first album, the band split up due to internal disagreements. Diamond also appeared on
truTV's ''
The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest...'' as a commentator. He appeared as a host at the 12th annual
Gathering of the Juggalos. In August 2013, Diamond became a housemate on the
twelfth series of
Celebrity Big Brother in the UK. He became the fourth housemate to be evicted on Day 16. Diamond was a spokesperson for the Rockford, Illinois-based insurance company
Insurance King. In some of its commercials that he is featured in, he makes several references to
Saved by the Bell (with logos in the commercial saying "Saved By the King"). In other commercials, he is shown to be pulled over, not caring about the already numerous tickets he has because he is "saved by the King!", being in a
Western-style standoff, and being a terrible barber. ==Professional wrestling career==