Beverly Cleary
The beloved children's author, known for work such as the Ramona Quimby series and Ralph S. Mouse, passed away at age 104 on March 26.
"We are saddened by the passing of Beverly Cleary, one of the most beloved children's authors of all time," Suzanne Murphy, the president and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, said in a statement. "Looking back, she'd often say, 'I've had a lucky life,' and generations of children count themselves lucky, too.
"Her timeless books are an affirmation of her everlasting connection to the pleasures, challenges and triumphs that are part of every childhood."
Celebrities were quick to react to news of Beverly's death, with many saying her books had encouraged their love of reading from early ages.'
"This makes my heart hurt," Sarah Polley, who starred in a PBS adaptation of the Ramona books, tweeted. "She made so many little disobedient girls feel like we had a treasured place in the world."
"Rest well, Beverly Cleary," Viola Davis tweeted when she heard the news. "You made my childhood fun."
"Beverly Cleary was a literary treasure whose lively characters brought so much joy to the world," Reese Witherspoon added. "I have the fondest memories reading the Ramona series. May she Rest In Peace."
"Sit here for the present. Jumping through the hole in the house. Brick Factory. Squeezing out all the toothpaste. The (not) hardboiled egg. Nosmo King. The pile of jiggly chicken skins. Picky-picky," Little Fires Everywhere author Celeste Ng tweeted, referencing many of Beverly's plays on words and funny events in her novels. "Thank you, Beverly Cleary, for these and so much more."
Born in Ohio in 1916, Beverly grew up in the country before moving to Portland, Ore. with her family as a child. She initially didn't like reading, but became a children's librarian after graduating with an arts degree in 1938 and a library science degree three years later. It wasn't until she was in her thirties that she began writing children's books and left her librarian job to do that for a living.
Henry Huggins, her first book, was based on her childhood, and it was Beezus and Ramona that turned her into a household name in 1955. From there, she went on to win many awards, including the National Medal of Arts. She's shown at left receiving that award in 2003.
Photo: © TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty Images
![<h2>Dustin Diamond</h2>
<p>The star, who was best known for his portrayal of the loveable nerd Samuel "Screech" Powers on <i><strong>Saved by the Bell</i></strong>, has died of cancer at age 44.
<p>Dustin was diagnosed with stage four small cell lung carcinoma, which his spokesperson <strong>Roger Paul</strong> described as a "brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer," just three weeks ago.
<p>"In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution," Roger said in a statement. "Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.
<p>"Dustin was a humorous and high-spirited individual whose greatest passion was to make others laugh," Roger's statement continued. "Dustin Diamond was a character in and of himself: an unpredictable spitfire who always left us shocked, but never left us bored. We are thankful he trusted us enough to share his genuine, authentic self with our team."
<p>Dustin had his share of struggles, filing for bankruptcy in 2001. He was also arrested in connection with a bar altercation and spent time in prison.
<p>"We want the public to understand that he was not intentionally malevolent," Roger said in his statement. "[Dustin] – much like the rest of those who act out and behave poorly – had undergone a great deal of turmoil and heartache. His actions, though rebukeable, stemmed from loss and the lack of knowledge on how to process that pain properly."
<p>Born in San Jose in 1977, Dustin started acting from a young age, and landed his best-known role in <i>Good Morning, Miss Bliss</i>, the predecessor to <i>Saved by the Bell</i>. He was with the show itself through its entire time on television, along with its sequels <i>Saved by the Bell: The New Class</i> and <i>Saved by the Bell: The College Years</i>.
<p>Following his time playing Screech, Dustin appeared on reality shows such as <i>The Weakest Link</i> and toured as a stand-up comic. He married <strong>Jennifer Misner</strong>, his longtime girlfriend, in 2009. The two divorced in 2013.
<p>Photo: © Noah Vasquez/Getty Images](/images/stories/0/2021/02/01/000/813/930/gallery_5_3.jpg)
