The entertainment world and 90’s babies everywhere are mourning the loss of James Van Der Beek, who passed away on February 11, at the age of 48. The actor, best known for his iconic role as Dawson Leery on the Dawson’s Creek, had been battling colorectal cancer since his diagnosis in 2023.
The news was confirmed via a statement on social media from his family which reads: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
It 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’s portrayal of the sensitive, film-obsessed teenager Dawson defined a generation of television viewers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The show, which ran from 1998 to 2003, became a cultural touchstone and launched the careers of Van Der Beek alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams.
Beyond Capeside, the father of six flexed his comedic chops in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and How I Met Your Mother, before going on to appear in filmssuch as Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction.
More recently, he had been competing on The Real Full Monty, using his platform to raise awareness about cancer screenings.
Van Der Beek’s openness about his cancer journey resonated with fans worldwide. He publicly shared his diagnosis in November 2024, stating he had been privately dealing with the illness while continuing to work and support his family. His transparency helped destigmatize conversations about men’s health and the importance of early detection.
Tributes from his former co-stars have already begun to flow in, the first coming from Busy Philipps, wrote wrote: “My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today.”
“Every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister. But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children,” she continued.
Sarah Michelle Gellar also expressed her saddness over the passing.
“I’m so sad for your beautiful family,”Gellar also wrote in the comments. “While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. F*ck Cancer.”
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