James Van Der Beek, the actor celebrated for his role as Dawson Leery in the hit series Dawson’s Creek, died Wednesday at the age of 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer, his family announced. A GoFundMe campaign launched in the wake of his death revealed the family was facing financial hardship due to the extensive costs of his medical care, and that Van Der Beek had received “almost nothing” in residuals from the popular 1990s demonstrate.
The actor was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024, and publicly shared his diagnosis via Instagram. He continued to work throughout his treatment, appearing in projects including the CW’s Walker in 2024 and Amazon Prime Video’s comedy Overcompensating in 2025, as well as competing on Fox’s The Masked Singer in 2025.
Despite the success of Dawson’s Creek, which ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003, Van Der Beek lamented a “bad contract” that left him with minimal financial benefit from the show’s enduring popularity. “There was no residual money,” he told TODAY in a 2012 interview. “I was 20. It was a bad contract. I saw almost nothing from that.”
According to reports, Van Der Beek and his co-stars – Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams – earned as much as $175,000 per episode during the final season of Dawson’s Creek. However, the lack of ongoing revenue streams following the show’s conclusion presented challenges. Van Der Beek himself acknowledged experiencing burnout after the series ended, leading him to decline numerous opportunities.
“I was exceptionally afraid to say yes to anything,” he told Variety. “I was also burned out and wanted to seize a break, and I passed on a lot of things because it didn’t perceive like something that I really wanted to do, or something that I didn’t want to promote.”
The GoFundMe campaign, established to support Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their six children, has already raised over $1.7 million. The campaign statement detailed the financial strain caused by the prolonged medical expenses. “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” the page reads. “They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.”
Notable donations to the fundraiser include a $25,000 contribution from director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, and a monthly donation of $2,500 from actor Zoe Saldana. The campaign seeks to cover essential living expenses, bills, and the children’s education as the family navigates their future.
