MIAMI, United States. – American actor James Van Der Beek, known worldwide for playing Dawson Leery in the youth series Dawson’s Creek (it has been translated into Spanish as Dawson grows)died this Wednesday at the age of 48, after a battle against colorectal cancer, as reported by his family on Instagram.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith and grace,” wrote the actor’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek. “There is much to share about your wishes, your love for humanity and the sacredness of time. That time will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we mourn the loss of our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend,” the message concludes.
Van Der Beek made it public in 2024 that he had colorectal cancer, after the disease was detected the previous year during a routine colonoscopy, and has since shared updates about his health on social media.
In recent months, the actor had taken measures to meet the costs of his treatment. Last November, the magazine People reported that Van Der Beek partnered with Propstore to auction off items from his personal collection linked to Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Bluesand that 100% of the income from those pieces would go to cover “the financial cost of fighting cancer.”
Shortly before, last September, he had participated by video in a charity reunion event Dawson’s Creek in New York, organized to raise funds. At the time, his physical absence was attributed to his state of health.
Van Der Beek starred Dawson’s Creek between 1998 and 2003, a series that made him a central figure in youth pop culture of the late 90s and early 2000s. In that series, he shared the screen with Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes. The actor also stood out for his roles in Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction. Although he later worked in film and television, his public image was strongly associated with Dawson’s Creek and to the “teenage idol” stage that he consolidated with that role.
According to the AP, he is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
