Lark Voorhies has paid tribute to her former Saved By The Bell co-star Dustin Diamond following his death on Monday.

The actor died at the age of 44 in the early hours of Monday in Florida, just weeks after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

Voorhies worked alongside Diamond for years on the kids comedy playing Lisa Turtle, the object of affections for Diamond's geeky Samuel 'Screech' Powers.

"Words cannot express the grief that I am feeling right now," she wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of them both on the show. "Dustin and I had a warm and special friendship, he was a caring gentleman, and my memories of him will always be cherished.

"I am so very sorry he is gone. But it's exceptionally sad for his close loved ones who have do deal with his tragic death and their own great loss. My heart goes out to them at this trying time."

Diamond's girlfriend and close friends are said to have been at his side when he died.