Actor James Van Der Beek died this Wednesday (11), aged 48. He had colorectal cancer and had been undergoing treatment since 2024, when he announced the disease.
Confirmation of the death was made on Instagram:
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He lived his final days with courage, faith and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. That time will come. At this time, we ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
Success
James became well known in several countries when he starred in the teen series Dawson’s Creek, which premiered in 1998 and was shown until 2003. The series showed a group of four young friends who dealt with issues such as love, friendship, becoming an adult and having responsibilities.
The series also made actors Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes, who were also co-protagonists alongside James, famous.
Career
Born in 1977, the actor debuted on TV in 1993, playing a small role in the series Clarissa Sabe Tudo. In 1998 he made his first film, Harvest. In the same year he was cast as the protagonist of Dawson’s Creek, a series that became a worldwide phenomenon.
At the same time as he was in the series, James was also dedicated to cinema in films such as Panicking (2000), The Empire (from Besteirol) Strikes Back (2001), among others.
After the end of Dawson’s Creek, the actor continued working in cinema in productions such as Final Draft and Alerta de Perigo, both from 2007, and also in series appearing in episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2012), CSI: Cyber (2015), Modern Family (2017), among others. His last work was in the film Another Love Out of Time, from 2025.
James Van Der Beek leaves behind a wife and six children.
