James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his breakout role as Dawson Leery on the 1990s teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at the age of 48 following a long battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Van Der Beek was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023 and publicly revealed his illness in November 2024, after initially keeping it private. During his illness, he spoke openly about the emotional, physical, and financial toll the disease had on him and his family, using his platform to raise awareness about cancer screening and prevention.
His family confirmed his passing, as People reports:
His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced the news on Instagram.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” Kimberly wrote. “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.”
Van Der Beek, who shares six kids with Kimberly (daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah) first shared his cancer diagnosis exclusively with PEOPLE in November 2024, saying he was focusing on his health and family.
“I have colorectal cancer,” he revealed. “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”
“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he continued.
Born March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek rose to fame as the earnest lead on “Dawson’s Creek” (1998–2003), a role that made him a cultural icon for a generation of viewers. He went on to appear in more than 60 film and television projects, including “Varsity Blues,” “The Rules of Attraction,” “CSI: Cyber,” and “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” and made memorable guest appearances on shows like “How I Met Your Mother.”
He appeared on reality competitions such as “Dancing With the Stars” and “The Masked Singer” and participated in cancer awareness projects like “The Real Full Monty,” which aimed to highlight the importance of early testing for cancers, including colorectal.
Van Der Beek’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues, celebrating both his career and his candor in confronting his illness.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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