James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a touchstone for a generation as the earnest Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, has died at age 48 after a public battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. His death, announced by his family on February 11, 2026, marks the end of a career that spanned nearly three decades and left an indelible mark on both television and film.
Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, broke the news with a heartfelt Instagram post: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.” She added, “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.” According to The Independent, tributes from fans and peers poured in almost immediately, with Sarah Michelle Gellar writing, “While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. F*** Cancer.”
Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, on March 8, 1977, Van Der Beek’s early ambitions had little to do with Hollywood. He once hoped to be an athlete, but a concussion at age 13 forced him to pivot. He took up acting, starring in school productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Grease. By 15, his determination led his mother to take him to New York to find an agent, setting him on the path to stardom.
His big break came in 1997 when he auditioned for and landed the lead in Dawson’s Creek. The series, which aired from 1998 to 2003, became a cultural phenomenon. As reported by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, Van Der Beek’s portrayal of the sensitive, Spielberg-obsessed Dawson Leery resonated with teens and young adults, anchoring a cast that included Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams. The show’s iconic love triangle and coming-of-age stories struck a chord with viewers, and Van Der Beek earned a Teen Choice Award nomination for his work.
Despite the show’s success, Van Der Beek had a complicated relationship with its legacy. In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, he admitted that hearing the theme song “I Don’t Want to Wait” by Paula Cole would still provoke a “weird panic.” He said, “If I was at karaoke and it started playing there’s a part of me – and I’m a grown-ass man with four kids – that still wants to go hide under the table.”
After Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek’s career took him in many directions. He starred as the rebellious quarterback in Varsity Blues (1999), a role that won him both an MTV Movie Award and a Teen Choice Award. He tackled darker territory in The Rules of Attraction (2002), acting alongside Ian Somerhalder, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, and Kate Bosworth. He also appeared in films such as Scary Movie (2000), Texas Rangers (2001), and Downsizing (2017) with Matt Damon.
On television, Van Der Beek demonstrated remarkable range. He played a satirical version of himself in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), starred as an FBI agent in CSI: Cyber (2015–2016), and took on recurring roles in Pose (2018) and Mercy. He also lent his voice to the animated series Vampirina (2017–2021), where he voiced Boris Hauntley, the father of the titular character. Other notable television appearances included guest spots on Ugly Betty, One Tree Hill, Law & Order: SVU, The Big Bang Theory, and How I Met Your Mother. In 2017, he wrote, produced, and starred in What Would Diplo Do? on Viceland, which garnered positive reviews and a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Van Der Beek’s personal life was as full as his professional one. He married actress Heather McComb in 2003, but the marriage ended in 2009. During a spiritual trip to Israel, he met Kimberly Brook, whom he married in 2010 in Tel Aviv. The couple had six children—four daughters and two sons—and, in 2020, relocated from Los Angeles to Texas for a quieter family life. Van Der Beek was candid about the joys and challenges of fatherhood, once describing it as “the craziest thing I’ve ever done” and “the thing that’s made me happiest.”
His journey with cancer began in the summer of 2023, though he kept it private until November 2024. According to The Independent, he initially dismissed symptoms as a side effect of caffeine, only to be diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek later said in a video posted for his birthday in March 2025, “I had to come nose to nose with death. And all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.” He continued, “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?”
In his final year, Van Der Beek sold signed Varsity Blues memorabilia to raise funds for his own treatment and to help others facing similar battles. He also leaned into his Christian faith, finding solace and meaning even as his illness progressed. Despite his declining health, he remained engaged with fans and colleagues. In September 2025, he was scheduled to participate in a live charity reading of the first episode of Dawson’s Creek to benefit the charity F Cancer. Though illness prevented his in-person attendance, he sent a video message introducing his replacement, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and thanked supporters. His wife Kimberly and their six children attended the event in New York City, honoring his wish for them to be present.
Van Der Beek’s final screen roles included the Prime Video series Overcompensating (2024) and, as The Hollywood Reporter noted, an upcoming appearance in the Legally Blonde prequel Elle, set to debut in summer 2026. His legacy, however, goes far beyond his filmography. As Chad Michael Murray wrote in tribute, “James was a giant. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us – he inspired us to be better in all ways.”
James Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah. For fans and peers alike, his passing is not just the loss of a talented actor, but of a man who met life—and death—with honesty, vulnerability, and grace.