Feb 12, 1:01 PM
James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star and Advocate for Cancer Awareness, Dies at 48
The actor, who rose to fame as Dawson Leery in the late-1990s teen drama, died after a battle with colon cancer, his family said.
James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for portraying the earnest, film-obsessed teenager Dawson Leery in the cult television series Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48, his family announced on Wednesday.
In a statement shared on Instagram, his family said Van Der Beek passed away peacefully in the early morning hours, adding that he faced his final days with “courage, faith and grace.” No further medical details were provided, but the actor had publicly disclosed a diagnosis of colon cancer late last year.
Van Der Beek revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with the disease, explaining that it had been discovered the year before. In a series of candid posts and videos, he spoke openly with his 1.8 million followers about the physical and emotional toll of cancer, saying he wanted to encourage others to take preventive screenings seriously and seek medical advice early. He described the diagnosis as frightening and overwhelming, while also expressing hope and belief in recovery.
Born in the United States, Van Der Beek became a household name almost overnight when Dawson’s Creek premiered in 1998. The coming-of-age drama, set in the fictional town of Capeside, followed a group of teenagers navigating friendship, ambition and first love. Alongside Van Der Beek, the cast included Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson, all of whom went on to build prominent Hollywood careers. The series ran for six seasons until 2003 and drew millions of viewers worldwide.
While the role of Dawson Leery defined his early career, Van Der Beek went on to appear in a wide range of television shows, including How I Met Your Mother and Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. He also found success on the big screen, earning a breakthrough award at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards for his performance as a high school football player in Varsity Blues. His later film work included roles in Labor Day, Downsizing and the 2020 horror-comedy Bad Hair.
Van Der Beek was married to producer Kimberly Brook, whom he wed in 2010 after divorcing actress Heather McComb. He was the father of six children. Friends and colleagues often described him as deeply committed to family life, particularly in recent years.
In September 2025, members of the Dawson’s Creek cast reunited in New York for a charity event supporting the cancer-awareness organization “Fuck Cancer.” Van Der Beek had planned to attend but withdrew at the last moment because of illness. Instead, he addressed the audience in a video message from his home in Austin, visibly weakened by treatment but thanking fans and friends for their support.
Van Der Beek began acting as a student, originally dreaming of a career on Broadway. That ambition led him instead to film and television, where his blend of sincerity and self-awareness made him a defining face of late-1990s youth culture. In recent years, his willingness to speak publicly about illness added a different dimension to his legacy.
Tributes from fans and fellow actors have highlighted not only his impact on a generation of television viewers, but also his openness in confronting cancer. For many, James Van Der Beek will be remembered both as the face of an era of television and as a public figure who used his final years to urge others to take their health seriously.
