James Van Der Beek, best known for his iconic role as Dawson Leery in the beloved teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48. The actor, whose career spanned decades and touched the hearts of fans across generations, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 11, 2026, following a courageous battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly, shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, writing, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.” She continued, “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 first revealed his cancer diagnosis publicly in November 2024, though he had been undergoing treatment since the summer of 2023. Initially, he brushed off symptoms such as irregular bowel movements, attributing them to his caffeine intake. According to Deadline, it wasn’t until the symptoms persisted that he sought medical attention and received the diagnosis that would define the final years of his life. He later described the ordeal as “the hardest year of my life,” sharing candidly on Instagram, “just a too skinny, weak guy, alone in an apartment with cancer … what am I?” Yet, throughout his struggle, Van Der Beek maintained a deep sense of faith and self-worth, stating, “I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?”
Born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek’s path to stardom was anything but conventional. As reported by The Independent, he originally aspired to be an athlete, but a concussion at age 13 forced him to step away from sports. Instead, he found his calling in drama, taking on roles in school productions before persuading his mother to take him to New York to find an agent at just 15. His determination paid off when he landed the lead in Dawson’s Creek in 1997, prompting him to leave Drew University and leap headfirst into Hollywood.
Dawson’s Creek debuted in 1998 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, running for six seasons and 128 episodes until 2003. The show’s central love triangle—between Dawson, his best friend Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), and their witty companion Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson)—captivated audiences and defined an era of television. Van Der Beek himself once confessed to The Guardian that the show’s theme song, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait,” triggered a peculiar anxiety: “I have a complicated relationship with that song. If I was at karaoke and it started playing there’s a part of me – and I’m a fing grown-ass man with four kids – that still wants to go hide under the table.”
His time on Dawson’s Creek launched the careers of its main cast, including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson, but it also brought its own pressures. Van Der Beek’s post-Creek career was marked by a willingness to take risks and a desire to break free from the “clean-cut” image. He starred in the football drama Varsity Blues (1999), the darkly comic The Rules of Attraction (2002), and made memorable appearances in films like Scary Movie and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He even poked fun at his own persona, playing a satirical version of himself in the sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013).
Van Der Beek’s television credits were equally diverse, including roles in CSI: Cyber (2015–2016), Pose (2018), and the Prime Video series Overcompensating (2024). He lent his voice to the animated series Vampirina from 2017 to 2021, and made guest appearances on shows like Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, and One Tree Hill. His versatility was further showcased when he wrote, produced, and starred in What Would Diplo Do? (2017), a Viceland film about the DJ, which earned critical praise and a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2019, he charmed audiences on Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fifth place alongside professional dancer Emma Slater.
Outside of his professional life, Van Der Beek’s personal journey was marked by resilience and devotion to family. He married his first wife, Heather McComb, in 2003, but the relationship ended in 2009. Later, during a spiritual trip to Israel, he met Kimberly Brook. The couple married in Tel Aviv in 2010 and went on to have six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. Van Der Beek was candid about the couple’s struggles with miscarriages and the joys and challenges of parenthood. As The Independent noted, he often described fatherhood as “the craziest thing I’ve ever done” and “the thing that’s made me happiest.”
In 2020, seeking a quieter life, the family relocated from Los Angeles to Texas. Even as he faced his own health battles, Van Der Beek remained committed to helping others. He sold signed Varsity Blues merchandise to raise funds for his cancer treatment and for others in need. In September 2025, when a Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event was organized by Michelle Williams to support the F Cancer charity, Van Der Beek was unable to attend in person due to illness. Instead, he appeared via video message, introducing his replacement, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and thanking fans for their enduring support. Kimberly and their children attended the event, with Kimberly later sharing, “This night was so special to the whole family, and more importantly, like just feeling my husband fill the entire theater, and the love for him.”
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world. Sarah Michelle Gellar 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 added, “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.”
Van Der Beek’s legacy is not just one of memorable roles and red-carpet moments, but of courage, authenticity, and an unwavering love for his family and fans. He is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, who now carry forward his memory and the lessons he so generously shared with the world.