James Van Der Beek died in February 2026 at age 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer.
The Connecticut-born actor was diagnosed with the illness in August 2023, but kept his battle under wraps until November 2024. At the time, Van Der Beek revealed that he had “been privately dealing with this diagnosis and [was] taking steps to resolve it” with support from his family, including wife Kimberly and their six children.
Van Der Beek’s death was confirmed in a statement shared via Instagram on February 11, 2026.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the statement read. “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, who was very vocal about his cancer fight prior to his death, rose to fame as a teen with his starring role as Dawson Leery in The WB’s Dawson’s Creek. The teen drama, which aired from 1998 to 2003, turned him into a household name and led to other famous projects, including the 1999 film Varsity Blues and more.
Keep scrolling for a look back at Van Der Beek’s most beloved TV and movie roles:
‘Dawson’s Creek’
James Van Der Beek became a teen idol due to Dawson’s Creek, in which he played young wannabe filmmaker Dawson Leery. The show followed Dawson’s life with his best friend Joey (Katie Holmes), close pal Pacey (Joshua Jackson), girl next door Jen (Michelle Williams) and more.
“It’s tough to compete with something that was the cultural phenomenon that Dawson’s Creek was,” Van Der Beek told Vulture in 2013.
The cast of Dawson’s Creek reunited in September 2025 for a live script reading of the 1998 pilot episode in support of F Cancer. Though Van Der Beek was supposed to attend the event in person, he announced the day prior that he would have to skip due to illness. He ultimately made a cameo via a video statement.
“I can’t believe I’m not there,” the actor said. “I can’t believe I don’t get to hug my castmates, my beautiful cast, in person, and I just wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight — from the cast to the crew to everybody who donated their time and has been so generous. And especially every single last one of you. You’re the best fans in the world. Thank you for coming.”
‘Varsity Blues’
Shortly after Dawson’s Creek debuted, Van Der Beek landed the role of Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, an academically successful but rebellious backup quarterback for his high school’s varsity football team, in the 1999 sports comedy-drama Varsity Blues. Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester and Scott Caan also starred in the film.
In November 2025, Van Der Beek announced that he would be auctioning off items from both Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues to help with costs associated with his cancer treatment.
‘Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23’
In 2012, Van Der Beek appeared in the sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 as a fictionalized version of himself. The series also starred Krysten Ritter and Dreama Walker.
‘The Rules of Attraction’
Van Der Beek took on a darker role in the 2002 black comedy drama The Rules of Attraction, based on Bret Easton Ellis‘ 1987 novel. Van Der Beek stars as Sean Bateman, a drug dealer from Berlin, New Hampshire, and the younger brother of Patrick Bateman, the main character of American Psycho.
The film also starred Shannyn Sossamon, Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Biel, Kate Bosworth, Kip Pardue and Joel Michaely.
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