James Van Der Beek, the actor famous for his roles in shows like Dawson’s Creek, Varsity Blues, and Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23, has died at the age of 48. His family announced the news on Instagram, with his wife, Kimberly, sharing that he faced his final days with courage and grace. She indicated they will share more about his wishes and values later, but asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
James Van Der Beek publicly shared his battle with colorectal cancer. He announced his diagnosis in November 2024, expressing a positive outlook and saying he was feeling well. Though his health prevented him from attending a Dawson’s Creek reunion in September 2025, he continued to report feeling good. Van Der Beek was surprised to learn he had stage-three cancer, as he hadn’t experienced any symptoms. In a December 2025 interview with Today, he emphasized the importance of getting regular screenings, saying, “If anybody takes anything away from this interview, it would be get tested.”
James Van Der Beek started his acting career at age 16 in an Off-Broadway play called Sand. A review in The New York Times praised his natural and unpretentious performance. He became a teen idol in 1998 when he landed the lead role in Dawson’s Creek. The following year, he starred in the popular movie Varsity Blues, earning an MTV Movie Award for his work. Later, in 2013, he played a comedic version of himself in the sitcom Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23. Most recently, he was scheduled to appear in Elle, a prequel series to Legally Blonde.
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2026-02-11 22:54