Actor James Van Der Beek, Star of ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ Dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, the performer who gained widespread recognition in the late 1990s as Dawson Leery on the television series “Dawson’s Creek” and later headlined the film “Varsity Blues,” died Wednesday at the age of 48. His death was announced in a message posted on his verified Instagram account, which stated that the actor “passed peacefully” earlier in the day and asked for privacy on behalf of his family.

No immediate cause of death was given in the online statement. Van Der Beek revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, a development he discussed publicly on several occasions while undergoing treatment. The Connecticut-born actor was a father of six and is survived by his wife, producer Kimberly Van Der Beek, as well as his children, parents and siblings.

Early life and entry into acting

Born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, James David Van Der Beek began performing while still in middle school. He made his professional debut at 16 in an off-Broadway production mounted in New York City in 1993. Throughout high school he continued to divide his time between local theater and academic commitments before enrolling at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

While attending Drew, Van Der Beek auditioned for the pilot of a planned teen drama on the fledgling WB Network. The show, titled “Dawson’s Creek,” began production in 1998. After winning the lead role of an aspiring filmmaker from a small coastal town, the actor left the university to devote himself full-time to the series, which ran for six seasons and quickly became a cultural touchstone.

Breakthrough and career highlights

“Dawson’s Creek” propelled its cast—which included Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson—into instant celebrity. Van Der Beek later reflected that experiencing such attention at age 20 was both exciting and overwhelming. While the series was still on the air, he expanded his résumé with film work, most notably portraying quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon in the 1999 coming-of-age sports drama “Varsity Blues.” The role secured him the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakout Male Performance that same year.

Additional film appearances followed, including a cameo in the 2000 parody “Scary Movie,” roles in the 2001 Western “Texas Rangers” and the 2002 dark comedy “Rules of Attraction,” and supporting parts in the 2009 thriller “Formosa Betrayed,” the 2013 drama “Labor Day” and the 2019 comedy “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.”

Although consistently active in cinema, Van Der Beek spent much of the next two decades working in television. He logged guest or recurring appearances on series such as “One Tree Hill,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Modern Family” and “CSI: Cyber.” From 2012 to 2013 he played a satirical version of himself on the ABC sitcom “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.” He later provided voice work for the Disney Junior series “Vampirina” and finished fifth on Season 28 of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2019.

In 2025, streaming platform Prime Video cast the actor in a recurring role for “Elle,” a prequel series set in the “Legally Blonde” universe. That same year he attended the Los Angeles premiere of the comedy series “Overcompensating,” one of his last public appearances.

Public disclosure of cancer diagnosis

Van Der Beek informed followers in November 2024 that a routine colonoscopy had led to a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, which had reached stage 3. Speaking on “Good Morning America” the following month, he described the logistical and emotional demands of treatment, calling the process “a full-time job” involving medical portals, insurance coordination and frequent appointments. He also characterized his outlook as generally positive, tempered by moments of fear and uncertainty.

In December 2024 the actor placed memorabilia from “Dawson’s Creek,” “Varsity Blues” and other projects up for auction to help offset medical expenses. The items ranged from scripts and costumes to personal keepsakes collected throughout his career.

Imagem: Internet

The American Cancer Society notes that colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults under 55, an issue highlighted by Van Der Beek’s diagnosis (external report).

Community support and final public appearances

Social media posts throughout 2025 indicated that Van Der Beek spent time with family while continuing treatment. Two weeks before his death he shared an Instagram message celebrating a shared birthday between his father and his daughter Annabel, crediting both with embodying compassion and generosity.

In September 2025 the original “Dawson’s Creek” ensemble reunited for a one-night table read of the show’s pilot episode to raise funds for the nonprofit F Cancer and to support Van Der Beek’s medical costs. Although a stomach virus prevented him from attending in person, he recorded a video expressing gratitude to participants and disappointment at being absent. Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda read the role of Dawson Leery in his stead.

Personal life

Van Der Beek was married twice. He wed actress Heather McComb in 2003; the couple divorced in 2010. Later that year he married film producer Kimberly Brook, with whom he had six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah. The family relocated from Los Angeles to Texas in 2020, citing a desire for more space and a slower pace of life.

Legacy

Over three decades, Van Der Beek established himself as both a leading man and a versatile character actor across genres ranging from teen drama to comedy and thriller. For many viewers he remained closely identified with Dawson Leery, a role defined by earnest ambition and adolescent uncertainty. Colleagues have frequently pointed to his professionalism and willingness to satirize his own image as hallmarks of his career.

Plans for public memorial services have not been announced. The Instagram statement that confirmed his death indicated that additional information about his wishes and charitable interests will be shared at a later date.

Crédito da imagem: Kevin Winter/Getty Images