The entertainment world is in mourning after confirming the death of James Van Der Beek, remembered for his starring role in the teen series Dawson’s Creek. The actor was 48 years old and faced a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, a disease he made public in November 2024. The news was announced through his official Instagram account, where his family shared an emotionally charged message.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He met his last days with courage, faith and grace… For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend,” reads the statement, accompanied by a photograph of the actor. The message also announced that details about the wishes he expressed in life, as well as his reflections on love for humanity and the sacred value of time, will be shared at a later date.
Since revealing his diagnosis, Van Der Beek has used his social networks as a space to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. With honesty and closeness, he spoke of the physical and emotional challenges he was going through, seeking to maintain a genuine bond with his followers.
James Van Der Beek: From college student to youth idol
James Van Der Beek studied at Mercersburg Academy and later entered Duke University, where he initially considered studying history. However, his artistic vocation led him to pursue acting.
In the mid-nineties he began to appear in small roles in film and television, until he obtained greater visibility with the film Angus (1995).
The big turning point in his career came in 1998, when he was cast to play Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek.
. The series quickly became a cultural phenomenon and remained on the air for six seasons until 2003. His character, a sensitive teenager with a passion for movies, made him one of the most recognizable faces on television in the late nineties and a youth idol with international reach.
A diverse career beyond “Dawson’s Creek.”
During the series’ heyday, Van Der Beek participated in productions such as Varsity Blues (1999), where he played a high school quarterback, and later in The Rules of Attraction (2002). After the end of the teen drama, he sought to expand his acting career with projects in independent films and television.
He stood out in the comedy Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, where he played himself in a satirical version, showing a more lighthearted and self-critical side. He was also part of series such as CSI: Cyber and participated in films such as Scary Movie and the series Pose. He also ventured into theater and worked as a producer in independent projects.
Beyond his career, Van Der Beek was the father of six children with his wife, Kimberly. In his recent publications, he shared family moments and personal reflections. In January, for example, he dedicated a touching message to his daughter and her father, who share a birthday, highlighting their “open, warm and loving hearts” and the creativity that characterized them.
He was scheduled to join his fellow Dawson’s Creek alumni in September 2025, but his health prevented him from participating. His departure leaves a legacy marked by the cultural impact of his work and the honesty with which he faced the most difficult moments of his life.
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