James Van Der Beek, the actor who rose to fame as the star of Dawson’s Creek and later appeared in films including Varsity Blues, has died following a fight with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was 48.
The news was shared by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, in a statement posted to Instagram: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. 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.”
Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek discovered acting as a teenager and eventually landed the starring role on Dawson’s Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003 and made him a household name. He later built a varied career in film and television, while remaining close with his former cast mates, which included Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson.
Van Der Beek publicly revealed his diagnosis in November 2024, explaining at the time that he had been quietly undergoing treatment while prioritizing his health and family: “I have colorectal cancer,” he said. “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.” He added, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
The cancer was discovered after a routine colonoscopy in August 2023. Initially unconcerned, Van Der Beek said: “It was just a change in bowel habits. I thought, I probably need to change my diet a little bit… And then I finally took that out of the diet, and it didn’t improve, and I thought, all right, I better go get this checked out.” He described the moment he received the diagnosis as life-altering, saying the doctor simply told him, “it is cancer.”
Van Der Beek said one of the most difficult challenges was informing loved ones: “Telling people required a lot of energy,” he admitted, noting how hard it was to share the news with his parents, siblings, and children. Support from friends and colleagues, however, deeply moved him: “It was amazing,” he said. “I’m never the person who asked for any help — ever… The way friends showed up was such a beautiful experience — and I would never have otherwise seen how much people care about me.”
In recent months, Van Der Beek was candid about the financial strain caused by prolonged cancer treatment. After his death, Kimberly shared a GoFundMe campaign explaining that medical costs had left the family struggling to maintain stability for their six children.
The actor remained reflective and open until the end. In a video shared on his 48th birthday, he spoke about how confronting mortality reshaped his sense of self-worth. “If I am just a too-skinny weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?” he said. “And I meditated and the answer came through – I am worthy of God‘s love, simply because I exist… And the same is true for you.”
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 12; Emilia, 9; Gwendolyn, 6; and Jeremiah, 4, in addition to Van Der Beek’s father and his siblings, Jared and Juliana.
Editorial credit: Alex Millauer / Shutterstock.com
