James Van Der Beek, Dawson’s Creek Actor, Dead at 48 After Cancer Battle

James Van Der Beek didn’t want to wait to live his life to the fullest.

The actor, beloved for his portrayal of Dawson’s Creek‘s titular character, died Feb. 11 after battling colorectal cancer. He was 48.

The Varsity Blues star is survived by his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their kids Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and 4-year-old Jeremiah.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” a statement posted to James and Kimberly’s Instagram accounts confirmed. “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,” the message continued. “Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

Throughout his years-long health journey, James was supported by his family and friends, including Dawson’s Creek costars Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams, who sent their love when he was forced to miss the cast’s reunion in September.

Inside James Van Der Beek and Wife Kimberly’s Enduring Love Story

“I will never find the words for what these three beautiful humans mean to me,” Katie wrote on Instagram at the time. “For our shared journey. For our everlasting bond. James, Josh, Michelle… from April 1997—I love you.”

“James, you got this. We got you,” she added. “To everyone who supported us from the beginning and who continue to support James and his beautiful family, we thank you.”

And James sent thanks right back. “Love you! Thank you for being you,” he commented, while Kimberly wrote, “You all are a magical, incredible bunch. Thank you for the love and check-in’s for our guy.”

James Van Der Beek, Kimberly Van Der Beek, Instagram, 2025

Instagram / James Van Der Beek

James, a Connecticut native, got his acting start as a teenager in the 1993 off-Broadway production of Finding the Sun. That same year, he booked a role in the TV show Clarissa Explains It All and later appeared in three episodes of As the World Turns before landing his breakout role in Dawson’s Creek, which ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003.

Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Dawson's Creek, 1998

Frank Ockenfels/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal

After his time as Dawson Leery came to an end, James booked memorable parts in One Tree Hill, How I Met Your Mother and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23. However, fatherhood became his most important role when he and Kimberly welcomed their first child, daughter Olivia, in Sept. 2010.

Olivia’s arrival came one month after the couple officially said, “I do.”

James—previously married to actress Heather McComb from 2003 to 2009—recalled in an August Instagram post, “15 years ago today, this woman agreed to be my bride. @vanderkimberly you are the most extraordinary human I’ve ever met.”

As James’ family, friends and fans continue to mourn his passing, open up your morning light and look back at his life in photos.