Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his starring role in the 1990s teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” has died at the age of 48.
His wife, Kimberly, announced the news on Instagram Wednesday. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the mother of six shared.
“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,” the post said.
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The actor was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 and has been candid about sharing his experiences since publicly revealing his diagnosis the following year. Last September, he had to cancel an appearance at a scheduled “Dawson’s Creek” reunion event due to his ongoing illness.
Van Der Beek was born in Connecticut in 1977. As a child, he had dreams of becoming a professional athlete, but changed focus after an injury. He scored his career-making role on “Dawson’s Creek” in 1998 alongside up-and-comers Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson.
The actor had several other television roles, including a fictionalized version of himself on the cult classic sitcom “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23” (2012–2013), and an FBI agent in “CSI: Cyber.” He also had recurring guest roles on “How I Met Your Mother” and “Pose.”
Van Der Beek’s film credits include “Varsity Blues” (1998), “Texas Rangers” (2001), “The Rules of Attraction” (2002), “Formosa Betrayed” (2009), “Labor Day” (2013), and “Bad Hair” (2020).
Last year, Van Der Beek reflected on what his cancer battle had taught him, The Daily Wire previously reported.
“I could define myself as a loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we’re so lucky to live on,” he told Instagram followers at the time. “And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition of the question, ‘Who am I? What am I?’”
“And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye,” Van Der Beek continued. “I had to come nose to nose with death. And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me. I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who is helpful to my wife.”
“So often we define ourselves by our roles in life or by what we do, but what if those things change? Who are we when it’s just us, alone, with nothing external to anchor us to a particular identity? And I meditated and the answer came through,” Van Der Beek went on. “I am worthy of God’s love, simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.”
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife of 15 years and their six children.
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