James Van Der Beek Death: Dawson’s Creek Star Dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the television series Dawson’s Creek, has died, according to multiple reports from Canadian and French news outlets. He was 48 years traditional.

La Presse and Radio-Canada both reported the news on Thursday, citing sources close to the actor. Le Monde too confirmed his death. Le Journal de Montréal published a video earlier this week featuring Van Der Beek discussing his plans for the spring.

Van Der Beek rose to prominence in the late 1990s with Dawson’s Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003. The series followed a group of teenagers navigating adolescence in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. He subsequently appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Varsity Blues, The Rules of Attraction, and Criminal Minds.

Details surrounding his death have not been released. Parismatch.com reported on what they described as “heartbreaking” final messages from the actor, but did not provide specifics.

Pierre Karl Péladeau, a prominent figure in Canadian media, was mentioned in a separate Google News result, but has no apparent connection to Van Der Beek’s death. Similarly, news regarding awards for podcasters Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin, and an update on Celine Dion’s health, are unrelated to this event.