Actor James Van Der Beek has died after a battle with colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.
His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared the news on Instagram, saying their beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. She described how he faced his final days with faith, grace and bravery. Kimberly also indicated there is more she and the family will eventually share about his wishes, his deep care for others and how they cherished their time together, but asked for privacy now as they mourn their husband, father, son, brother and friend.
TMZ reported the death first. While the family’s statement did not list an official cause of death, Van Der Beek had been publicly battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he received in 2023.
Van Der Beek had been scheduled to take part in a Dawson’s Creek reunion benefit in September alongside his former castmates, but he later withdrew because of health concerns. The actor — best known to many as the star of the teen drama — had revealed his cancer diagnosis to the public in November 2024 and spoke about his health on the TODAY show with Craig Melvin in December.
Reflecting on his experience in that interview, Van Der Beek said the treatment and recovery stretched far longer than he expected and demanded strengths he had not known he possessed. He spoke of having to exercise patience, discipline and a deeper reserve of inner strength, noting that while he had seen himself as resilient before, the ordeal revealed an even greater capacity.
He explained that his cancer was discovered after a colonoscopy prompted by a change in his bowel habits. Learning the diagnosis initially left him stunned. Yet he also described a surprising, almost immediate reframing: rather than only seeing the diagnosis as catastrophe, he felt a quiet conviction that it could force the life changes he might otherwise never have made — changes that could lead to healthier, happier years ahead.
In discussing how the illness shifted his priorities, Van Der Beek said it taught him to slow down and to cultivate self-compassion. He spoke about feeling worthy of love — his own and a spiritual love — and about how his relationship with faith changed. Before the diagnosis, he said, faith was something he tried to fit into a busy life. Afterward, he felt a stronger sense that connecting to a larger spiritual force and tending lovingly to relationships with others were central to life’s purpose.
The actor’s career included a variety of film roles in addition to his television fame. He appeared in movies such as Texas Rangers (2001), The Rules of Attraction (2002), Formosa Betrayed (2009), Labor Day (2013) and Bad Hair (2020), and became widely known for his leading role in Varsity Blues.
Van Der Beek is survived by his family, including his six children. As his loved ones grieve, they have requested time and space to process their loss and to honor his memory in private.
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