Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his role on TV’s “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at age 48.
Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery in the 90s teen drama, announced a colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2023. Van Der Beek also starred in the films “Varsity Blues and “Texas Rangers.”
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” a post on the actor’s wife’s Instagram account said. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
NBCLA has reached out to his publicist for comment.
He is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
Van Der Beek had announced that he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 at the age of 46.
“I’m just on the journey,” he told TODAY of his cancer battle in July 2025. “It’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.”
After his diagnosis, Van Der Beek became committed to spreading awareness about the importance of early screenings and detection as colorectal cancer rates are skyrocketing in young adults.
“I ate as well as I could. I was healthy. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape,” he said. “There was no reason in my mind that I should have gotten a positive diagnosis.”
In September 2025 Van Der Beek was scheduled to reunite with “Dawson’s Creek” cast members Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams and others for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode in a one-night only charity event.
“We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been and we always will be,” Williams said at the time. “And I know the fans of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ feel the same way.”
Van Der Beek — the titular character of “Dawson’s Creek,” which aired from 1998 to 2003 on The WB — was forced to cancel his appearance due to illness.
“So, you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment,” Van Der Beek said in a social media post the day before the event.
“I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most,” the post reads.
James Van Der Beek is shedding new light on how he is feeling emotionally amid his battle with colorectal cancer. During an interview with “TODAY” on Friday from his Texas ranch, the actor reacted to concerns over his appearance which arose after he was unable to attend a “Dawson’s Creek” reunion on Broadway in September due to a stomach virus.
Van Der Beek surprised fans at the event with a pre-recorded video appearance.
“I can’t believe I’m not there,” he said in the video played at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City. “I can’t believe I don’t get to see my castmates, my beautiful cast, in person. I wanted to stand on this stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight.”
Van Der Beek’s wife and children were in attendance, joining the stars on stage to sing the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait.”
“This night was so special for the whole family and, more importantly, just feeling my husband fill the entire theater and the love for him,” Kimberly Van Der Beek wrote on her Instagram story after the event.
James Van Der Beek was born on March 8, 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut. He became interested in theater in middle school and went on to make his off-Broadway debut in the play “Finding the Sun” in 1993 at 16 years old.
He made his first television appearance on a 1993 episode of Nickelodeon’s “Clarissa Explains It All” and, in 1995, appeared in three episodes of the CBS soap opera “As the World Turns.”
In 1997, he landed the role of Dawson Leery in “Dawson’s Creek,” a coming-of-age drama centered around a group of teenage friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. The show debuted Jan. 20, 1998 and ran for six seasons and 128 episodes, becoming an international success and turning a main cast of unknowns into stars.
Van Der Beek went on to find success on the big screen. He starred in the teen football drama “Varsity Blues” in 1999, taking home the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance.
He followed with appearances in “Texas Rangers,” “Scary Movie,” “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back” and many others through 2020.
He maintained a television presence throughout, with recurring roles on hits like “Criminal Minds,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “One Tree Hill.”
He later made reality television appearances on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2019 and “The Masked Singer” in 2025.
He continued working after his cancer diagnosis, starring in the series, “Elle,” about the high school years of the “Legally Blonde” character.
“The greatest thing about work is a cancer doesn’t exist between action and cut,” Van Der Beek said in 2025. “It was fun to drop in and just have a blast because it’s such a great cast, a great production, and everybody out there is really talented.”
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
No responses yet