His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” she wrote. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace… For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
The actor revealed in November 2024 that he had been privately dealing with colorectal cancer. He said the disease was discovered after a routine colonoscopy in August 2023. At the time, he admitted he hadn’t been overly worried about mild symptoms, including changes in bowel habits, but ultimately decided to get checked.
When doctors told him it was cancer, he said he went into shock.
“I’m very healthy,” he shared in a 2024 interview. “I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy as much as I could… There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
Despite his determination and positive outlook, the journey proved difficult. Van Der Beek described having cancer as a “full-time job,” with constant doctor visits, insurance issues and emotional conversations with loved ones.
One of the hardest parts, he said, was telling people.
“I’m an empath. I like to take care of everybody,” he explained. “To have to tell people… it was really tricky.”
Still, he was deeply moved by the outpouring of support from friends and fans. “I’m never the person who asked for any help — ever,” he said. “The way friends showed up was such a beautiful experience.”
Van Der Beek made his final public appearance in December during an interview on Today, where he said he was feeling “much, much better” than he had months earlier. He remained hopeful, calling his cancer journey a possible “life redirect.”
Born on March 8, 1977, in Connecticut, Van Der Beek fell in love with acting in high school. After briefly attending Duke University, he left to pursue acting full time — a decision that changed his life.
In 1998, he landed the role of Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, starring alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams. The WB teen drama ran for six seasons and became a defining show of its era, tackling issues like mental health, grief and identity while following a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts.
After the series ended in 2003, Van Der Beek continued working steadily in film and television. In addition to Varsity Blues, he appeared on shows including How I Met Your Mother and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.
In 2024, just weeks after going public with his diagnosis, he participated in The Real Full Monty, a two-hour special aimed at raising awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer testing.
Family was always at the center of his life. He married Kimberly in 2010, and together they welcomed six children: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua and Jeremiah.
Van Der Beek often spoke about how much he loved being a father.
“I really feel like we won the great cosmic lottery that these souls chose to have us as their parents,” he said in 2024. Watching his children care for one another, he once shared, was one of the “biggest delights” of his life.
Following news of his death, friends of Kimberly launched a GoFundMe page to help support the family with living expenses and the children’s education, noting that they are facing financial challenges amid their loss.
In one of his final interviews, Van Der Beek reflected on what his illness had taught him.
“It’s okay to not know. It’s okay to hit the depths of despair,” he said. “The hero’s journey is never a straight line.”
James Van Der Beek is remembered not only for the characters he brought to life on screen, but for his openness, resilience and devotion to his family. He is survived by his wife and six children.
Tags:
News
