'Dawson's Creek' star James Van Der Beek dies at 48 after colorectal cancer battle

James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a defining face of teen drama in the late 1990s and early 2000s through iconic roles in Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, has passed away at the age of 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer. His death on February 11 was announced on his official Instagram account Wednesday, where a post described him as meeting his final days with “courage, faith, and grace.” The message asked for privacy as his family and friends grieved the loss of a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. A representative confirmed the news to USA TODAY and shared a GoFundMe set up for the family.

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023 and made his illness public in November 2024. Despite his diagnosis, he continued working, appearing on shows such as Walker (2024) on The CW and Amazon Prime Video’s comedy Overcompensating (2025). He also competed on The Masked Singer (2025) and was set to appear in Amazon Prime’s Legally Blonde prequel Elle as Dean Wilson. Van Der Beek remained active on social media, posting as recently as two weeks before his death, celebrating the joint birthday of his father and one of his daughters.

Reflecting on his illness, Van Der Beek had told USA TODAY that cancer deepened his appreciation for acting and storytelling. “For a minute, I thought, ‘I don’t need acting,’” he said in a 2025 interview. “Then, when I got cancer, I realized I love to tell stories. Acting is actually a real passion. Writing is a real passion, and I need to feed that.”

Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, on March 8, 1977, Van Der Beek described himself as a shy kid who initially aspired to be an athlete before discovering acting in his early teens. His first roles included a 1993 appearance on Nickelodeon’s Clarissa Explains It All, the 1995 film Angus, and a three-episode stint on the CBS soap As the World Turns.

His breakout came in 1998 when he landed the lead role of Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, a sensitive, Spielberg-obsessed teen navigating friendship, love, and adolescence. The show ran for six seasons and became a cultural touchstone. Van Der Beek later reflected that while Dawson’s personality could be “annoying,” he appreciated the vulnerability the role allowed him to portray. Following Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek appeared in films and TV shows including Varsity Blues (1999), Criminal Minds (2007), Ugly Betty (2007), One Tree Hill (2008-09), Law & Order: SVU(2012), and ABC’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012-13). He also voiced characters in animated series such as Vampirina (2017-2021) and appeared on FX’s Pose (2018).

Van Der Beek’s personal life was marked by a deep commitment to his family. After a 2009 divorce from actress Heather McComb, he met Kimberly Brook in Israel and recounted their whirlwind romance, marrying her in 2010. The couple had six children: Olivia (2010), Joshua (2012), Annabel (2014), Emilia (2016), Gwendolyn (2018), and Jeremiah (2021). Van Der Beek often spoke of Kimberly’s care during his illness, describing it as a lesson in unconditional love and the importance of receiving help.

Even while battling cancer, Van Der Beek remained connected to his fans and legacy. He had to withdraw from a live reading of the Dawson’s Creek pilot in 2025 due to illness, though his family attended in his place, and he recorded a video message expressing gratitude. His final public appearance was on the Today show on December 19, 2025, where he discussed his journey and the personal growth cancer prompted, emphasizing self-love and the value of connection.

James Van Der Beek leaves behind a legacy as a beloved actor whose performances captured the emotional complexity of adolescence and the joys and struggles of human connection, as well as a devoted family who shared in his life and work.

Source: USA TODAY