James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the hit 1990s television series Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. His family announced his death on Wednesday, February 11, in a statement posted to his Instagram account.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the statement read. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will reach. For now we question for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Van Der Beek publicly revealed his diagnosis of stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024, according to reporting from TODAY.com. He continued to work throughout his treatment, appearing in the CW series Walker in 2024 and the Amazon Prime Video 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.
The news of Van Der Beek’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from his Dawson’s Creek co-stars. Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter, shared an emotional handwritten letter via Instagram, expressing gratitude for the “imprint” he left on her life and offering support to his wife, Kimberly, and their children. “Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art — creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children — the journey of a hero,” she wrote.
Kerr Smith, who portrayed Jack McPhee on the series, described Van Der Beek as a “brother” and praised his brilliance, creativity, and generosity. “Being around him meant thinking more deeply, laughing more freely, and feeling more awake to the world,” Smith posted on Instagram. He added a direct message to Kimberly, stating that Van Der Beek “loved you deeply.”
Busy Philipps, who played Audrey on Dawson’s Creek, shared her heartbreak on Instagram, writing, “James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and i don’t know what else to say. I am just so so sad. He was my friend and i loved him and i’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.” She also shared a link to a GoFundMe campaign established to support the Van Der Beek family.
Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Van Der Beek’s mother on the show, remembered him as a “gracious warrior” who fought his battle with “quiet strength, and dignity.”
Sasha Alexander, who appeared in season 4 of Dawson’s Creek, expressed her grief, calling Van Der Beek a “beautiful soul and kind human.” Hal Ozsan, who played Todd Car in the final season, described Van Der Beek as a brother and praised his ability to live “heart-first.” Kevin Williamson, the creator of Dawson’s Creek, shared a message of support for Kimberly and the family, stating that the entire cast was there for them.
In December 2025, Van Der Beek appeared on TODAY and described himself as “really fortunate in an unfortunate diagnosis,” whereas still undergoing cancer treatment. He had been absent from a Dawson’s Creek reunion in September 2025 due to stomach issues, but clarified that his absence was not related to his cancer, according to TODAY.com. The reunion, organized by Michelle Williams, raised money for F Cancer and for Van Der Beek himself, selling out in 12 minutes and raising thousands of dollars.
Williams, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on March 1, said she was “thinking about him and I’m thinking about his family constantly” and expressed gratitude for the donations made to the family’s GoFundMe.