James Van Der Beek has passed away at the age of 48. In August 2023, James was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. He’d been receiving treatment for it and in December, held an auction to raise money to help pay for that treatment. James was best known for portraying Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, Mox in Varsity Blues, and himself in Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23. The news of James’ passing was announced on Instagram by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek. James is also survived by his six children, Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four.
The beloved Dawson’s Creek star died at age 48 on Wednesday, Feb. 11, his wife, Kimberly, announced in a statement on his social media accounts.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” her statement said. “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.”
A cause of death has not been shared at the time of publishing, but the actor previously opened up about his diagnosis of stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer starts in the colon or the rectum, and it has become more common in otherwise healthy adults under 55 (one in five new colorectal cancer diagnoses are among people under the age of 55, which has increased from one in 10 in 1995). Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at age 46.
This is so sad. I feel so badly for his wife and children and hope they have a good support system. James’ last interview was in December with Today. During that interview, he said that he was feeling “much, much better.” I was really hopeful that he would beat his cancer. When James revealed his diagnosis, he said it was to raise awareness on the importance of doing routine screenings because cancer can happen to anyone, no matter how healthy they think they are. So, in James’ honor, here is another reminder not to put off getting the important screenings, like colonoscopies and mammograms.
Last month, Paul Walter Hauser started fundraising on Cameo to help James and a celebrity auction was planned to begin on March 1. After the news broke, James posted that so far, he’d raised over $14,000 towards his $20,000 Cameo goal and would be donating that money and any other money raised directly to Kimberly and his children to help support them. You can check Paul’s Cameo out here.
Note by CB: I saw James in The Real Full Monty in late 2024, with Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, Chris Jones, Tyler Posey and Bruno Tonioli. He opened up and was so vulnerable about his diagnosis. I’m sure he helped a lot of people decide to get screenings.
Photos credit: Avalon.red
Very sad news. Those poor kids!
I was not a fan of Dawson’s Creek or Varsity Blues, but I was a teenage girl when those were out and he was everywhere. This is so sad. I wish his family peace and healing.
So sad, and he seemed like such a good person , husband and father 🙁
I’ve never watched any of the shows that he was in but did follow his story and sincerely prayed and hoped that he would pull through. Condolences to his wife, children, family and friends.
Yes, very sad and very young. His cancer death reminded me of Shannon Doherty, who passed away from breast cancer at the age of 53. May God rest their souls and may their loved ones find peace.
Cancer sucks 😪 I hope his family finds peace. I’m a huge Dawson’s Creek fan so it hits closer.
I’m genuinely sad to hear this. God, this country and healthcare. He was wonderful in the B*tch in Apt 23. Truly a great character (“himself” but not really). RIP, and condolences to his loved ones.
One of the best stupid TV shows ever made.
My PSA mission has become to tell everyone I know to start getting colonoscopies. I had my first recently (I’m 46 so I was 1 year late from the new recommendation) and found a precancerous polyp. With a paternal family history of colon cancer, I need to repeat them every 3 years.
There is nothing embarrassing about taking care of your health, and the prep for the procedure is not fun but much better than the alternative. 100% covered by health insurance, which is a rare thing to say in this country. Unfortunately for those in my age group and younger, colon cancer rates have soared. Lucky us we got to grow up with all the processed food with all the chemicals.
How incredibly sad. RIP
I didn’t realize he had such young children. Jeez, this is tragic. I’m getting my sixth colonoscopy in March, everybody please check with your doctor to see if you might be at a point in life or family history where you might need one.
That Real Full Monty was a gut punch. I was a rabid Dawson’s Creek fan. I was 14 in 1998. I’ve basically grown up watching that cast in their careers. Seeing all of his children just broke me. The older ones who had to watch it all happen. The younger ones who will only have whispering memories of him. And all the guys around the table who heard him and were present for him. Praying for all of them.
Well, shit. I missed Dawson’s Creek, but caught James in Apt. 23 and thought he was wonderful.
Oh, and I will just throw this out there. Got my first colonoscopy last month, ten years later than they recommend it. Almost cancelled several times bc I was terrified of the process. I ate soft foods the whole week ahead (essentially no meat or roughage, not a hard diet at all) and it was easy, and the procedure itself and recovery were absolutely nothing at all. Please get it, even if you’re scared. Then you too can tell people how there’s nothing to it
The preparation of the colonoscopy is the absolute worst part. (that is, the night before).
The rest is absolutely… easy. GO! GET IT!
…I probably shouldn’t be allowed to write PSAs.
I found with the soft diet for 6 days before, I mean I didn’t love it, but there was no trauma. Nothing at all like I had been led to believe.
I was 46 also at diagnosis (Cologuard screening came back positive then they found it in colonoscopy acouple months later…took THAT long to get in in our area) and have been clear for a year now. My doctor said I was one of the lucky ones and that only a little over 1/3 of patients beat cancer with diagnosis in particular with the standard of care treatments offered today. I had no symptoms, but looking back my stool had gotten skinner so I should have known right then something was wrong but otherwise I had no symptoms. I also participated in a drug trial, but I got the standard of care arm of the study. So, they are trying….For me, I wonder if artificial sweeteners are more to blame for this rise in cases than other things. Since so many otherwise ‘healthy’ people are getting it? Healthier people usually avoid sugar right? Anyway, I hope some day we will know. Rest in peace James and I donated to the gofundme for your family, with Love M
Congratulations on being clear and thank you for sharing your story.
I’ve been trying to get a screen since I turned 45 almost thee years ago, but it’s nearly impossible in my area to even get a colonoscopy (and it’s hardly like I’m eager for one).
You and @Jane above, and James’ tragic story, have reminded me of the importance of continuing to try, rather than just assume I’m fine-because-what-are-the-odds? So, thank you very much.
And congratulations again!
Heartbreaking. I wish his family healing and peace.
OMG, Elle! I somewhat understand what you’re going through. I have a heart issue that I was originally told needed a yearly CT scan; then I moved & the next cardiologist I saw said no, that’s too much radiation, a yearly echocardiogram (ultrasound) is good enough. I was very, very worried about that. So far, so good, but there’s always that little niggling fear….
My heart breaks for his children, it’s so sad.
Friends of his wife have started a Go Fund Me for his family but I’m honestly wondering where all his money went? His estimated net worth was between $6 million and $15 million, so where did that all go???
I’m always sad when someone dies, and I’m very sad for his children… but his wife is an anti-vaxxing grifter. The irony of James having intensive treatment to try and save him from cancer while his wife has actively promoted pseudo science and anti vax rhetoric was not lost on me at the time. Sad for them. Still think she’s a terrible person.
I’m reading that his lack of recent work, no longer qualified him for SAG healthcare. IDK. But they seem to have used their money for his treatments.
Just very, very sad. My sympathies to all his loved ones.
Fuck cancer.
Also, you’re so right that, even if he hated Dawson’s Creek or got tired of it, he never let us see it. He was always a good sport.
Gah, hate past tense.
Heartfelt condolences to the Van Der Beek family.
For those afraid to get a colonoscopy, let me tell you: I was TERRIFIED to get a colonoscopy, to a level that was beyond what I can describe in words. The thought of it, all of it, all the what-ifs, and at the colonoscopy, the intake nurse said, whatever the results, you’ll know what you’re dealing with and can then deal with it from there, and if you don’t get a colonoscopy, it will be dealing with you and you won’t know it until it’s too late, but either way, you’re going to be dealing with it, so get it now.
I got my colonoscopy, and it was… a total non-event. I can’t even believe I’m saying that, because the level of fear I felt about a colonoscopy FOR YEARS was pure panic, sheer terror, paralyzing anxiety, abject fear.
The procedure is so unbelievably routine to the doctors and nurses, it doesn’t even faze them to deal with these body parts that make us so anxious. And then they gave me a very good drug, I was out in a few seconds, woke up, and had zero recollection of any of it. Even if you have polyps that need to be removed, you literally feel absolutely none of it.
So if you’re putting it off, seriously, take it from me, the poster child for WORSE THAN AS BAD AS COLONOSCOPY FEAR CAN GET. It was totally and completely fine.
Get the colonoscopy. Same for mammogram.
I have friends in common with James Van Der Beek, although I’ve never met him personally. From what they’ve told me over the years, he is just one of the very best, most all-around loving guys you could ever meet. He moved his family to Texas because he wanted his kids to grow up away from Hollywood. He and Kimberly had not one but two late-term pregnancy losses in recent years, and his IG grid is testament to both his endless love for her and his kids. I was really, really hoping he would beat cancer.
🙁 He sounds so nice. I hope Kimberly & their kids get support.
F cancer.
Adding another comment because I am seeing some hateful stuff on social media. James was not MAGA. His wife is anti-vax and leans into the trad-wife lifestyle trend. That’s not my jam, but it’s also not the same as storming the capitol, and James was a loud supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. He underwent surgeries and chemotherapy – modern, Western cancer treatment. I wish news outlets would stop headlining with the $1M Go Fund Me because that is barely enough to buy a 3-bedroom house in Austin, TX.
Thank you so much for pointing that out. It really needed to be said.
This is so sad. I was hoping he would make it.
I just came here to say, I am so sorry for his loss. I started getting colonoscopy early because my dad died from it. My siblings and I were clear. I am now eighty years old and had my last one last year. My Dr said I graduated with flying colors. But that doesn’t mean that it haven’t touched my family. My niece died from it at age 53 years old during Covid she wasn’t able to get the treatment she needed. I am so glad they lowered the age for colonoscopy. Hopefully it will save lives of younger people.
I’m saddened. I saw something he posted just after new year and I thought about that post not three days ago.
I have been following him closely since he went public with his diagnosis so I knew he has not been doing well but I still hoped he’d pull through it. I am so, so sad about this. He was, by all accounts, a genuinely good man. I feel so sorry for his wife and their six kids. What a loss for them and for the world.
It’s wild to me that 45 is the age to start colonoscopy screenings considering how it’s on the rise for 40ish year olds. Seems like 40 would be the bare minimum just like mammograms. Just to establish a baseline.
I just turned 41 with family history of both breast and colorectal cancer. Luckily, I was able to get both done at 40 with zero issues. I just had my second mammo in Dec and won’t go back for another colonoscopy until 45. It really was no big deal. The prep sucked, but I was in and out in no time.
The part about him in a wheelchair watching the sunset is very, very sad and upsetting.