Trending Now: Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek dies aged 48 – Fans React

Former Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has passed away, his family have confirmed. He was 48.

James started out as a theatre actor in his early youth, before shooting to superstardom as Dawson Leery in the titular Dawson’s Creek, a teen drama on the WB created by Kevin Williamson.

He would go on to star in several films, including Varsity Blues, where he won an MTV Movie Award, and the cult classic black comedy The Rules of Attraction, as well as making cameos in several other films — including Scary Movie, where he played Dawson.

After being diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer, James’ wife Kimberly, announced that he passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning.

‘Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,’ Kimberly wrote on Instagram. ‘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 come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.’

James and Kimberly wed in 2010, and share six children together — daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah — with the couple revealing after the birth of their sixth child that they had actually suffered two previous miscarriages.

James was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, but didn’t make his diagnosis public until a year and a half later in November 2024, when he told People magazine that he was dealing with the diagnosis privately.

‘I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,’ he told People at the time. ‘There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.’

James previously thanked people for their well-wishes after he revealed his diagnosis, saying at the time that the support was ‘overwhelming.’

‘It was amazing,’ he said. ‘I’m never the person who asked for any help — ever. It’s not in my DNA. And I thought that was a fine way to be until cancer. The way friends showed up was such a beautiful experience — and I would never have otherwise seen how much people care about me.’

James is survived by his wife and their six children.