{"id":2277954,"date":"2026-02-11T21:08:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T21:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2277954"},"modified":"2026-02-11T21:08:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T21:08:34","slug":"james-van-der-beek-dawsons-creek-star-has-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/james-van-der-beek-dawsons-creek-star-has-died\/","title":{"rendered":"James Van Der Beek, \u2018Dawson\u2019s Creek\u2019 star, has died"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n James Van Der Beek, the soft-eyed actor whose boyish good looks and earnestness landed him the leading role in \u201990s teen drama \u201cDawson\u2019s Creek\u201d and catapulted him to stardom, has died. He was 48.\n <\/p>\n

\n The actor died Wednesday, according to a statement posted to the actor\u2019s verified Instagram<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cHe met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,\u201d the statement said. \u201cThere 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.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n His representative Whitney Tancred also confirmed the news when reached by celebrity.land.\n <\/p>\n

\n Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly shared six children.\n <\/p>\n

\n Van Der Beek announced in November 2024<\/a> that he was living with stage 3 colorectal cancer.\n <\/p>\n

\n Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek was the eldest of three children.\n <\/p>\n

\n Van Der Beek caught the acting bug in middle school, and as a teen, asked to be taken to New York City to get an agent and audition for roles.\n <\/p>\n

\n Soon after, he was cast in an off-Broadway play, \u201cFinding the Sun,\u201d and later won an academic scholarship to Drew University in New Jersey.\n <\/p>\n

\n More roles followed, including the role of Rick Sanford in the 1995 film \u201cAngus,\u201d followed by a bit part in \u201cI Love You, I Love You Not\u201d starring Claire Danes.\n <\/p>\n

\n After talking some time off from college to travel, Van Der Beek auditioned for the starring role in \u201cDawson\u2019s Creek,\u201d which would make him a star.\n <\/p>\n

\n The nighttime WB teen soap also starred Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams.\n <\/p>\n

\n The show would run for six seasons from 1998 until 2003, launching the careers of the four primary cast members.\n <\/p>\n

\n Van Der Beek also found success on the big screen in 1999\u2019s \u201cVarsity Blues,\u201d 2001\u2019s \u201cTexas Rangers\u201d and \u201cThe Rules of Attraction\u201d in 2002.\n <\/p>\n

\n In 2003, he married actress Heather McComb, but they divorced seven years later.\n <\/p>\n

\n At the time of his death, Van Der Beek\u2019s wife Kimberly shared a GoFundMe campaign<\/a> through representatives as well as on social media alerting the public to the financial strain their family has faced since Van Der Beek\u2019s illness began.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe costs of James\u2019s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time,\u201d the campaign summary reads. \u201cThe support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n This is a developing story.<\/em>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n