James Van Der Beek, ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star, Lifeless at 48 After Most cancers Battle

James Van Der Beekgreatest often called the titular star of The WB’s flagship teen drama Dawson’s Creekhas died on the age of 48 following a prolonged battle with colorectal most cancers. He was initially identified again in 2023, publicly revealing his sickness and therapy in November 2024. The information of his demise was confirmed by TMZand no official trigger was introduced.

Initially attending Drew College on an educational scholarship and slicing his enamel in theater, Van Der Beek’s life would change eternally after being solid within the lead position of Dawson Leery within the pilot for Dawson’s Creek in 1997. The Kevin Williamson-created collection was a right away coming-of-age hit, set within the small city of Capeside, Massachusetts, the place the younger Dawson and his group of buddies navigate the curler coaster of teenage life as they develop up collectively. Not solely did it assist put The WB on the map as a vacation spot for teen tv throughout its six seasons, however it additionally remodeled Van Der Beek right into a scorching commodity amid a solid filled with breakout stars, together with Katie Holmes, Joshua Jacksonand Michelle Williams. Notably, the solid, minus Van Der Beek, because of sickness, had lately reunited for a studying of the pilot for charity in assist of their main man and the group F Most cancers.

Van Der Beek would additional cement himself as a teen heartthrob on the massive display screen after starring within the 1999 sports activities drama Varsity Blues because the academically good, but rebellious, backup quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon. Additionally that includes a pre-Quick & Livid Paul Walker and Jon Voight as a tyrannical head coach, the movie has turn out to be a cult basic, following Mox as he is thrust into beginning duties when his college’s star quarterback is injured, and is compelled to hold the hopes of a football-obsessed city regardless of his personal ambitions. It helped pave the way in which for a formidable movie profession, from Texas Rangers to Jay & Silent Bob Strike Againand the function adaptation of The Guidelines of Attraction.

Van Der Beek Introduced Far Extra to Tv Than Simply Dawson Leery

For all his efforts in theaters, although, the actor would stay most outstanding on the small display screen. Following Dawson’s Creek‘s finish in 2005, he’d bounce round in smaller roles on Ugly Betty and Prison Minds earlier than touchdown a recurring half on One Tree Hill and a key position in NBC’s short-lived medical drama Mercy. His most outstanding tv look after his time in Capeside, nonetheless, would are available 2012, when he boarded ABC’s Do not Belief the B—- in Condominium 23 as a fictionalized model of himself who was shut buddies with Krysten Ritter‘s titular occasion lady Chloe. Van Der Beek persistently proved that his vary as an actor was extensive, from womanizing bosses to washed-up actors, serial killers, and past.

Van Der Beek’s final position earlier than his demise got here in Prime Video’s breakout hit Overcompensating from Benito Skinneralthough he additionally filmed for a outstanding position within the Legally Blonde prequel collection Elledue out in 2026. Whereas primarily identified for his on-screen work, he proved a succesful author too, penning the comedy collection What Would Diplo Do? through which he starred as DJ Wesley “Diplo” Pentz as he bumbled via the music business. Ultimately, his standing as a teen icon proved to be only one small, if memorable chapter in a storied leisure profession.

Our condolences exit to Van Der Beek’s family members presently.