James Van Der Beek, best known for portraying aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery in the hit series “Dawson’s Creek,” passed away at his home on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. He was 48.
An Instagram post on his account said James David Van Der Beek died peacefully that James David Van Der Beek died peacefully that morning, facing his final days with strength, faith, and grace. The message added that the family is requesting privacy as they mourn their treasured husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023 following a colonoscopy. He opted to keep the diagnosis confidential for over a year before announcing it publicly in November 2024.
Born March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Conn., Van Der Beek discovered a passion for acting in middle school. He made his TV debut at age 16 in a 1993 episode of “Clarissa Explains It All” and soon participated in an off-Broadway production of Edward Albee’s “Finding the Sun,” launching a career that spanned more than three decades across television, film, and voice acting.
His breakthrough arrived in 1998 when he auditioned for and earned the lead role in The WB’s teen drama “Dawson’s Creek.” He left Drew University in New Jersey to join the show, which ran for six seasons. He co-starred alongside Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson, who all became major stars.
Van Der Beek once remarked that he “got stupidly lucky” at 20 when he landed a role in a “zeitgeist, cultural phenomenon” that brought him instant fame. He admitted his first instinct back then was to “run away from it,” but now wishes he could tell his younger self to “relax, be grateful, enjoy it.”
While working on “Dawson’s Creek,” Van Der Beek also headlined the 1999 sports drama “Varsity Blues,” portraying second‑string quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon. The part became his most memorable film role and won him the MTV Movie Award for best breakout male performance that same year.
His film credits also included “Scary Movie” (2000), “The Rules of Attraction” (2002), “Formosa Betrayed” (2009), and “Labor Day” (2013) with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. He later appeared in “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” in 2019.
Following the conclusion of “Dawson’s Creek” in May 2003, Van Der Beek remained active on television. He played a comedic, fictional version of himself on the ABC series “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23” and took on a lead role in “CSI: Cyber.” He also voiced Boris Hauntley in the Disney Junior show “Vampirina.”
In 2019, Van Der Beek competed on Season 28 of “Dancing with the Stars” with pro partner Emma Slater. The pair reached the semifinals, ultimately finishing in fifth place.
The cast of “Dawson’s Creek” reunited on September 22, 2025, for a live reading of the pilot episode at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theatre. Van Der Beek had to withdraw at the last minute due to two stomach viruses, leading Lin-Manuel Miranda to step in as Dawson. Van Der Beek recorded a video message for fans, saying, “You’re the best fans in the world.”
In December 2024, Van Der Beek opened up about the challenges of cancer during an appearance on “Good Morning America.” He described it as feeling like taking on a full‑time job — sorting through medical portals, dealing with insurance, and managing constant appointments — and admitted he hadn’t realized how overwhelming it could become.
He said he tried to stay mostly optimistic, believing the ordeal would ultimately lead to life changes he would value. He estimated that about 90 percent of the time he maintained this mindset, while the remaining 10 percent he found himself a “sobbing, terrified mess,” which he felt was perfectly understandable.
In December 2025, Van Der Beek sold cherished props from “Dawson’s Creek,” “Varsity Blues,” and other productions through Propstore to help cover his treatment expenses, earning more than $47,000. The top‑selling piece was a necklace Dawson gave to Joey Potter on the show, which sold for $26,628.
Van Der Beek leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. Not long before his death, he posted a heartfelt birthday message celebrating both his father and his oldest daughter, Olivia, who share a birthday, expressing profound love and gratitude for them.