James Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on the iconic TV series Dawson’s Creek, has passed away at the age of 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” read an Instagram post announcing his death. The message, shared by both Van Der Beek’s account and his wife Kimberly, requested privacy for the family during their mourning.
Van Der Beek, married with six children, revealed his cancer diagnosis in 2024. He rose to fame playing the lead in the 1998–2003 teen drama that followed friends growing up in a small Massachusetts town. While he appeared in films like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, he remained most celebrated for his television work.
“Overall, I’ve worn my past with pride rather than seeing it as something to get rid of,” he told Page Six in 2011, reflecting on his career.
The Instagram tribute included a photo of Van Der Beek in a white top and cardigan, adding, “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.”
