James Van Der Beek, the American actor famed for his role as Dawson Leery on The WB’s Dawson’s Creek, has passed away at the age of 48.
His family announced the news in a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday evening, saying:
“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.”
Van Der Beek had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in late 2023, though he did not disclose his illness publicly until November 2024.
Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, he was the eldest of three children. He discovered a passion for acting in middle school and, by age 15, told his mother he wanted to pursue auditions professionally.
A devoted father of six, Van Der Beek rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through his roles in Dawson’s Creek and the football drama Varsity Blues, among other projects.
Following his death, his wife, Kimberly, shared a GoFundMe link on social media, revealing that the prolonged cost of his medical care had placed the family under financial strain.
“The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family without funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time,” she wrote.
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