James Van Der Beek, the US actor best known for playing Dawson Leery in the 1990s teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died aged 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer, according to a statement posted by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, on social media.
In an Instagram post accompanied by a photograph of her husband, Kimberly wrote: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. 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.” The family’s statement did not specify where he died.
Van Der Beek’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow actors and television personalities, including messages posted publicly beneath Kimberly’s announcement and on other platforms. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who worked with Van Der Beek during his career and is known for her own long-running television roles, posted a message on Instagram expressing condolences to his family. “I’m so sad for your beautiful family,” she wrote. “While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. F*** Cancer.”
Chad Michael Murray, another actor associated with early-2000s US television, also posted a tribute addressed to Van Der Beek’s loved ones. “Sending love and light to your beautiful family,” he wrote. “James was a giant. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us- he inspired us to be better in all ways. God bless you guys.”
Emma Slater, the professional dancer who partnered with Van Der Beek during his 2019 run on Dancing With the Stars, wrote that she was “devastated” and described him as family. “I’m so devastated,” she wrote. “He is and will always be family to me. Love you so much James. The man that you are, you can be proud of. So grateful that I got to be there to say goodbye to you.”
Derek Hough, another Dancing With the Stars veteran, shared a longer message alongside a video of Van Der Beek speaking about his life and illness. In his caption, Hough wrote: “My heart is heavy hearing about James’ passing. I immediately thought of this video he shared , it moved me to tears the first time I saw it, and it moves me even more now. I wanted to honor his memory by sharing.” He continued: “What a wise, thoughtful, loving man. Thank you, James, for your courage, your strength, and for sharing your light even in your darkest moments. Praying for his wife, his beautiful children, and his family. Thank you James.”
Van Der Beek had previously spoken publicly about his cancer diagnosis and treatment, after first disclosing that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Reports at the time said the diagnosis came after medical tests including a colonoscopy, and Van Der Beek later used social media and interviews to describe the practical and emotional impact of treatment, at times framing his condition as a demanding daily struggle.
Colorectal cancer, sometimes referred to as bowel cancer, is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in many countries. Medical guidance generally emphasises early detection and screening, particularly for people with symptoms such as persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue, as well as for those with family history or other risk factors. In recent years, health authorities in multiple countries have also highlighted rising rates of colorectal cancer among younger adults, prompting renewed attention to awareness and screening.
Van Der Beek became a household name after Dawson’s Creek premiered in 1998, becoming one of the defining teen dramas of its era and helping propel several of its cast members to long-term careers. The series ran for six seasons, following a group of friends navigating adolescence and early adulthood in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. Van Der Beek’s portrayal of Dawson, an earnest aspiring filmmaker, made him a prominent pop-culture figure at the height of the show’s popularity.
Beyond Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek appeared in films including Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, and continued to work steadily in television and film for more than two decades. He later took on roles that played with his public image, at times leaning into self-referential comedy, while also acting in dramas and family-oriented projects. Colleagues and fans frequently described him as approachable and thoughtful in public appearances and online posts.
In the hours after the family’s announcement, attention also turned to the impact of Van Der Beek’s illness on his wife and children. A fundraising page circulated online referencing financial pressures associated with long-term medical treatment and the challenges facing the family following his death. The page described the family as facing “significant financial strain” and said: “In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds.”
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. In her statement, Kimberly asked for privacy as the family grieves, while also indicating that further details about his wishes would be shared later. For many who grew up with Dawson’s Creek and followed his work since, the tributes reflected both his cultural impact and the more personal bonds formed through colleagues and collaborators over years in the industry.
The messages shared publicly in the wake of his death repeatedly returned to a similar theme: admiration for how he confronted illness and gratitude for the work he left behind. As Gellar put it in her tribute, “James’ legacy will always live on,” even as friends and co-stars acknowledged, in their own words, the scale of the loss for his family and those closest to him.
