Actor James Van Der Beek has passed away at the age of 48. The news was shared by his wife, Kimberly, who posted the following statement on Instagram:
Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There 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.
James Van Der Beek is most known for playing Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek on WB. He announced that he had Stage 3 colorectal cancer in November of 2024. “I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,” Van Der Beek said on Instagram. “Please know that my family and I deeply appreciate all the love and support.” Van Der Beek continued to document his cancer journey on Instagram throughout his battle with it.
Disney fans might recognize Van Der Beek’s voice could be heard as Pazu in Castle in the Sky. He also provided the voice of Boris Hauntley in Vampirina. In front of the camera, he played Lincoln Rogers Dunnison in the 2001 Dimension/Miramax film Texas Rangers. He then portrayed Matt Bromley in the first season of the FX drama Pose (2018). He was also considered at one point for the role of Anakin Skywalker, a role that ended up going to Hayden Christensen.
James David Van Der Beek was born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut. He acted throughout most of his life, making his professional debut when he appeared in an off-Broadway production of Finding the Sun. His first big-screen role was in 1995’s Angus. Dawson’s Creek became what he was most well-known for. This series started in 1998. This led to many other roles for the actor. He continued to act throughout his life. However, being a husband and father turned out to be what he was most proud of. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.
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