James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the 1998-2003 television series Dawson’s Creek, died on February 11, 2026, in Austin, Texas. He was 48 years old.
Van Der Beek’s death was reported by multiple news outlets including News24, BBC, CNN, and Fox News. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Born James David Van Der Beek on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, he began his acting career in 1992. His breakthrough role came with Dawson’s Creek, where he played a teenage aspiring filmmaker. Following the series’ conclusion, Van Der Beek continued to operate in television, and film.
His film credits include Varsity Blues (1998), Texas Rangers (2001), The Rules of Attraction (2002), Formosa Betrayed (2009), Labor Day (2013), and Bad Hair (2020). He also appeared in television shows such as CSI: Cyber, where he played FBI agent Elijah Mundo, and Pose, as Matt Bromley.
More recently, Van Der Beek starred in a fictionalized version of himself in the ABC sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.
A fundraiser established for Van Der Beek’s widow and children has reportedly surpassed $500,000 within hours of its launch, according to The Guardian.
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly Brook, and their six children. His mother, Melinda Weber, a dancer and gymnastics teacher, predeceased him in 2020.
