James Van Der Beek, the actor who gained prominence portraying Dawson Leery in the 1990s television series Dawson’s Creek, died Wednesday at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. The diagnosis, revealed in November 2024, followed the actor noticing changes in his bowel movements, prompting a screening that revealed stage three of the disease.
His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced his death in a statement posted to Instagram, noting he “met his final days with courage, faith and grace.” Further details regarding his wishes and a celebration of his life would be shared at a later date, she added, requesting privacy for the family.
Van Der Beek’s role as Dawson Leery, an aspiring filmmaker navigating adolescence, propelled him to teen idol status during the six-season run of the WB series. The show, which premiered in 1998, became a defining drama of its era. He also appeared in the 1999 film Varsity Blues, further solidifying his early career.
In the years following Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek continued to perform in television and film, but increasingly used social media to share aspects of his personal life, including the challenges and joys of raising six children. He publicly discussed his cancer diagnosis, documenting his treatment and the emotional toll it took on him and his family.
According to an interview with Business Insider, Van Der Beek described a particularly difficult period during treatment, where he felt a loss of identity as his roles as a father, provider, and husband were temporarily disrupted. “I had to sit there and say, ‘Well, what am I?’ And it was, ‘I’m still worthy of love,’” he said.
Despite his illness, Van Der Beek remained active professionally. He appeared in the CW series Walker in 2024 and Amazon Prime Video’s comedy Overcompensating in 2025. He also participated as a masked contestant on Fox’s The Masked Singer in 2025 and had been cast in Amazon Prime’s upcoming Legally Blonde prequel, Elle, as Dean Wilson.
Van Der Beek’s diagnosis and subsequent advocacy brought attention to the rising rates of bowel cancer among younger people. The Cleveland Clinic notes that increased screenings have helped detect the disease earlier, improving outcomes. He had initially attempted to address his symptoms by eliminating coffee from his diet before seeking medical evaluation.
A GoFundMe account has been established by a representative for the family, details of which were shared alongside the announcement of his death.
