Varsity Blues star Ali Larter publicly reacted to James Van Der Beek’s demise at age 48 following his battle with most cancers.
“My coronary heart goes out to Kimberly and his six stunning youngsters,” Larter, 50, informed Leisure Tonight on Sunday, March 1, on the 2026 Actor Awards. “He simply had such grace inside him and that’s actually what I believe he gifted to the world. My coronary heart is along with his household.”
Van Der Beek starred within the 1999 sports activities comedy-drama as Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, an academically profitable however rebellious backup quarterback for his highschool varsity soccer workforce. Larter performed Darcy Sears.
The movie additionally starred Jon Voight, Scott Caan and late actors Paul Walker and Ron Lester.
James Van Der Beek has seen the monetary toll that most cancers takes on sufferers resembling himself. “Merch drop! Excited to have fun the twenty fifth anniversary of #VarsityBlues with a restricted version #4 Moxon jersey — every one personally autographed by me,” Van Der Beek, 47, just lately wrote through Instagram. “Seize yours now on the hyperlink (…)
Van Der Beek’s demise was confirmed in a press release shared through his Instagram web page on February 11.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek handed peacefully this morning,” the assertion learn. “He met his ultimate days with braveness, religion and beauty. There may be a lot to share relating to his needs, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. These days will come. For now, we ask for peaceable privateness as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and good friend.”
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Workplace confirmed to Us Weekly that Van Der Beek was pronounced useless at 6:44 a.m. on Wednesday. A medical skilled made the decision to the examiner’s workplace.
Van Der Beek introduced his stage III colorectal most cancers prognosis in November 2024.
“I’ve been privately coping with this prognosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the help of my unimaginable household,” he informed Folks on the time. “There’s cause for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
Scott Caan (82), Ron Lester (69), Jon Voight, Paul Walker (7), James Van Der Beek (4), Eilel Swinton (33)
Paramount/courtesy Everett AssortmentVan Der Beek mentioned he first seen signs in 2023. Docs found the most cancers throughout a colonoscopy.
Van Der Beek was very vocal about his sickness previous to his demise, typically advocating for individuals to talk with their docs in the event that they discover signs.
“Even simply the slightest little change, it might be one thing, however … don’t assume that not having signs means you don’t must get screened, particularly for one thing that’s this curable when caught early,” he mentioned in a July 2025 interview with At present.com. “That’s actually what I wish to get throughout. I ate in addition to I may. I used to be wholesome. I used to be in superb cardiovascular form. There was no cause in my thoughts that I ought to have gotten a constructive prognosis.”
James Van Der Beek’s spouse, Kimberly, is sharing her love for her man amid his ongoing most cancers battle. Kimberly, 43, cheered on the Dawson’s Creek star within the feedback part of his newest Instagram put up, giving a bit replace on how he’s doing. “You’re a wizard. Bouncing again, child!! 😍😍😍,” the mother of six wrote (…)
In his ultimate interview earlier than his demise, Van Der Beek mentioned most cancers was the “smartest thing” to occur to him.
“As quickly as I heard the information (about my colorectal most cancers prognosis), I went into shock,” he informed At present’s Craig Melvin in December 2025. “One of many issues I used to be actually fortunate about was, as quickly as I heard the information, I assumed, ‘That is going to be the very best factor that ever occurred to me.’”
Van Der Beek added {that a} voice in his head informed him, “You’re gonna make adjustments in your life that you’d by no means, ever make for those who didn’t have this excessive of a prognosis and it’s going so as to add wholesome, completely happy years to your life.”
James is survived by his spouse, Kimberly Van Der Beek — whom he married in August 2010 — and their six youngsters: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.