American actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his lead role in the television drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48 following a battle with bowel cancer.
His family announced his death in a statement shared on his official social media accounts, saying he “passed peacefully” and faced his final days “with courage, faith, and grace.”
Van Der Beek disclosed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in the latter half of 2023. In an earlier interview with Business Insider, he said he sought medical testing after noticing changes in his bowel habits. Doctors later confirmed the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes.
The father of six rose to prominence in the late 1990s as Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003. He also starred in the 1999 film Varsity Blues and appeared in series including Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars.
Van Der Beek continued working after his diagnosis, including a recent guest role in Prime Video’s Overcompensating. He also made a virtual appearance at a Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event, which raised funds for cancer-related causes.
He is survived by his wife and six children.
