As first reported by TMZ, TV and film actor James Van Der Beek has died. Known for the TV drama Dawson’s Creek and the 1999 film, Varsity Blues, Van Deer Beek had been battling colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.
Born on March 8, 1977, Van Der Beek grew up in Connecticut and began acting in middle school, according to Consequence. In the coming years, he appeared in theatre productions off-Broadway and independent films before landing his breakout role.
According to Consequence, Van Der Beek became a household name starring as Dawson Leery on the WB teen soap from 1998 to 2003. His star would only grow brighter as he landed the leading role in Varsity Blues. As Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, Van Der Beek portrayed a passionate high school quarterback who famously didn’t want his father’s life.
He took on other film roles throughout the 2000s, including The Rules of Attraction, Castle in the Sky and The Plague. However, he found solace and even more success on TV. According to Consequence, he appeared on Franklin & Bash and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. He also starred as hyperbolized version of himself in the short-lived ABC comedy Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23, and landed a leading role in CBS’s CSI: Cyber. Van Der Beek struck critical gold, appearing in FX’s Pose in 2018.
In addition to his acting, Consequence writer Van Der Beek was creative behind the scenes. He was the creator, writer and showrunner for Viceland’s What Would Diplo Do?, where he played a version of the popular music producer/DJ. He was seen in last year’s Prime comedy Overcompensating and made appearances on Drop the Mic and The Masked Singer.
Van Der Beek announced his cancer diagnosis in late 2024, despite being diagnosed in August the year before, according to Consequence. A month after going public with his condition, he announced an auction of memorabilia from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues to offset medical bills. The auction raised a total of $47,000.
Van Der Beek leaves behind a wife, Brook, and their six children.