‘Dawson’s Creek’ star James Van Der Beek dies at 48, following years-long battle with colorectal cancer

James Van Der Beek, the beloved Dawson’s Creek star, has died, his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed. He was 48.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” Kimberly announced in a statement on Wednesday. “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, born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Conn., was best known for his portrayal of the titular, Steven Spielberg-loving teen filmmaker, Dawson Leery, on The WB’s Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003. In addition to starring on the hit teen drama, which is recognized as having paved the way for other teen shows in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Van Der Beek also starred in the teen football movie Varsity Blues (1999), for which he won an MTV Movie Award.

The former teen heartthrob went on to make several television appearances throughout his career, landing starring roles on Pose (2018), CSI: Cyber (2015-2016) and Friends with Better Lives (2014). Van Der Beek returned to his teen drama roots as an adult when he landed a guest-starring role on One Tree Hill from 2008 to 2009. He later portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the ABC sitcom, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, from 2012 to 2013.

Van Der Beek, more recently, appeared in two episodes of Prime Video’s college-set comedy, Overcompensating, in 2025. He was set to portray Dean Wilson in the forthcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, which debuts later this year.

The Texas Rangers star was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023, but did not go public with his stage III cancer battle until November 2024.

“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” Van Der Beek previously told People in late 2024. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

Acting, for Van Der Beek, was a welcome distraction as he battled colorectal cancer.

“The greatest thing about work is cancer doesn’t exist between action and cut,” he said on NBC’s Today show last July. He added, of his time filming Elle, “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.”

Van Der Beek made a surprise virtual appearance at a Dawson’s Creek reunion last September, after bowing out due to his ongoing cancer fight. The event, organized by fellow Dawson’s star Michelle Williams, benefited the organization F*** Cancer. On the day before the reunion event at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City, Van Der Beek revealed in an Instagram post that he’d developed two stomach viruses simultaneously and would no longer be able to attend in person.

“I cannot believe I don’t get to hug my castmates, my beautiful cast, in person, and just, I wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew … and especially to every single last one of you. The best fans in the world,” The Rules of Attraction star said in a heartfelt prerecorded video. The video, played on the big screen in front of fans and Dawson’s castmates, was met with roars of applause.

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, whom he married in 2010, and their six young children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.