James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star, Dead At 48 After Cancer Battle

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his roles in “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues” has died at age 48 after battling cancer for more than two years. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced his passing in a joint Instagram post on Feb. 11. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she wrote, before asking for privacy at this time. James went public with his illness in a November 2024 issue of People, revealing that he had been privately undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer since being diagnosed the previous year. The father of six went on to openly document his journey and become a vocal advocate for early cancer detection.