James Van Der Beek, the American actor best known for his iconic role as Dawson Leery in the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48. His family announced his passing in a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday evening, describing his final moments as peaceful and marked by “courage, faith, and grace.” They asked for privacy as they mourn the loss of their “loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Van Der Beek had been battling colorectal cancer since late 2023, a diagnosis he chose to keep private until November 2024. In later interviews, the actor spoke candidly about the physical and emotional toll of the illness, revealing that he was diagnosed with stage three cancer after noticing changes in his bowel movements and undergoing screening. Despite the challenges, he continued to work, advocate for early cancer detection, and share messages of resilience, saying one of his hardest moments was feeling as though his identity as a father, husband, and provider had been put on pause.
Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek began acting at a young age and rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Alongside Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003), he starred in films such as Varsity Blues and appeared in popular shows including Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and Dancing with the Stars. He was a father of six and remained active in the industry even during treatment, recently guest-starring in Prime Video’s Overcompensating and making a virtual appearance at a Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event.
Following his death, Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, shared a link to a GoFundMe campaign, revealing that the prolonged cancer fight placed the family under significant financial strain. Tributes have since poured in from fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry. Co-stars, including Busy Philipps, and fellow actors such as Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Garner, and Olivia Munn, remembered him as a kind, sincere presence whose work left a lasting impact. In a joint tribute, the official Dawson’s Creek accounts noted that his portrayal of Dawson Leery “helped define a generation of television,” a legacy that continues to resonate long after his passing.
The post James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star, dies at 48 after cancer battle appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
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