James Van Der Beekfinest identified for enjoying Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creekwas battling most cancers since 2024 till he died in February 2026, his household introduced. James was 48.
When the late actor skipped an in-person charity occasion along with his former co-stars in 2025, followers grew extra involved about James’ well being.
“I’ve been wanting ahead to this evening for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams mentioned she was placing it collectively,” James mentioned in a shock pre-recorded clip on the September 2025 Dawson’s Creek charity occasion in New York Metropolis. “I can’t consider I’m not there. I can’t consider I don’t get to see my castmates, my lovely solid in individual. … And simply I need to stand on that stage and thank each single individual within the theater for being right here tonight. From the solid to the crew to all people who’s doing something and has been so beneficiant, and particularly each single final one in every of you – you’re the finest followers on the planet.”
Under, Hollywood Life has the complete clarification of James’ most cancers battle.
What Most cancers Did James Van Der Beek Have?
James was residing with stage 3 colorectal most cancers, he revealed in November 2024.
“I’ve been privately coping with this analysis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the assist of my unimaginable household,” he informed Individuals on the time. “There’s cause for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
The actor admitted he “at all times related most cancers with age and with unhealthy, sedentary existence” however realized that isn’t at all times the case.
“However I used to be in wonderful cardiovascular form,” James identified. “I attempted to eat wholesome — or so far as I knew it on the time. … Then the gastroenterologist mentioned — in his most nice bedside method — that it was most cancers. I believe I went into shock.”
Is There a Remedy for Colorectal Most cancers?
Colorectal most cancers can with handled with surgical procedure, however it must be detected early. Such surgical procedures embrace a polypectomy to take away cancerous polyps, a partial colectomy to take away a bit of the colon, radiofrequency ablation — utilizing warmth to destroy cancerous cells — and chemotherapy, in accordance with the Cleveland Clinic.
James Van Der Beek’s Sickness Earlier than Loss of life
In July 2025, James mentioned in a As we speak look that he was “feeling nice,” although it’s “been a journey.”
“There are simply so many ups and downs and so many unknowns,” the Varsity Blues star famous. “Most cancers is – I name it a full-time job … It’s a course of. It’ll in all probability be a course of for the remainder of my life.”
Two months later, James needed to skip an in-person Dawson’s Creek charity occasion on the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York Metropolis as a result of two abdomen viruses. Lin-Manuel Miranda was his understudy, and James’ spouse and youngsters had been within the viewers on his behalf.
Nonetheless, James shocked followers by showing just about to thank followers and his Dawson’s Creek castmates.
“Thanks for coming. It’s simply completely humbling simply how a lot you probably did for this evening, and I simply need to say thanks,” he mentioned. “Thanks to each single individual right here.”
That November, James discovered a solution to elevate cash to fund his medical remedies and assist different households battling most cancers: by promoting signed Varsity Blues jerseys, he shared in an Instagram video.
In December 2025, James sat down with As we speak‘s Craig Melvin for an interview about his well being journey. Craig indicated in an Instagram publish forward of the interview’s air date that James was a “ray of positivity.”
Sadly, simply two months later, James died “peacefully” at house along with his household, they introduced in an Instagram publish on February 11, 2026.