‘Dawson’s Creek’ star, James Van Der Beek dies at 48 after cancer battle

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his starring role in the teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at the age of 48.

His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed his death in a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday.

“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she wrote. “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,” she added.

In November 2024, Van Der Beek revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. At the time, he said he had been undergoing treatment privately while focusing on his health and family.

“I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,” he wrote in an Instagram post dated Nov. 3, 2024. “Please know that my family and I deeply appreciate all the love and support.”

He later shared updates about his cancer journey on social media, frequently expressing gratitude for his wife and children.

Van Der Beek rose to fame as Dawson Leery, the earnest aspiring filmmaker at the heart of the WB’s “Dawson’s Creek,” which premiered in 1998 and ran for six seasons. The series, set in a fictional Massachusetts seaside town, also starred Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson and became a defining teen drama of its era.

“The little pilot we shot in that small town for that fledgling network aired, changed our lives and launched our careers,” he wrote in 2018, marking the show’s 20th anniversary.

The success of the series made Van Der Beek a teen idol and led to several film roles. He starred as a high school quarterback in the 1999 hit “Varsity Blues” and appeared in films including “Scary Movie” (2000) and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” (2001).

After “Dawson’s Creek” ended in 2003, he continued working steadily in television and film, with guest appearances on “Criminal Minds,” “Ugly Betty,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “One Tree Hill,” “Medium” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

In the early 2010s, he earned praise for playing a fictionalized version of himself in the ABC sitcom “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” a self-aware role that allowed him to parody his own fame. He later appeared in the CBS procedural “CSI: Cyber” and the FX drama “Pose.”

Born James David Van Der Beek on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, he began acting as a child and made his professional debut in an off-Broadway production of Edward Albee’s “Finding the Sun.” His early film credits included “Angus” (1995) and “I Love You, I Love You Not” (1996).

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. He was previously married to actor Heather McComb.