JSON.deserialize() for User records wont work

Question

I'm trying to deserialize a received user record on a JSON format. TO achieve this I'm using JSON.deserialize() but when I specify the User class the compiler throws the following error:

Save Error: variable does not exist User.class

This is my code:

    @RemoteAction
    global static String updateTotalAccompByUserId(String userJSON, String userCategory, String totalAccomp, String currentQuarter, String currentYear){
        ...
        User user = (User) JSON.deserialize(userJSON, User.class); /*ERROR*/
        system.debug('%%% user: ' + user);
        ...
    }

Answer 1

I was able to reproduce the issue in my DEV org by creating a class named User.

Another class has following code:

User user = (User) JSON.deserialize('{}', User.class); 

Which yeilds the same error as you have mentioned:

Variable does not exist: User.class

Solution: Delete or rename User custom class and try again.

---

Better Solution mentioned by Adrain in comment: Use Schema.User.class:

Schema.User user = (Schema.User) JSON.deserialize('{}', Schema.User.class);