James Van Der Beek, Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues Actor Dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his breakout role as Dawson Leery on the 1990s teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48.

His family confirmed that he passed away on February 11, 2026, after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, a condition he publicly disclosed in 2024 while continuing to work and advocate for cancer awareness.

Born James David Van Der Beek on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, he began acting at a young age and rose to fame as the introspective lead in Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003), a defining series of late-90s television that helped launch a generation of teen dramas. His portrayal of Dawson Leery turned him into a household name and shaped the early years of The WB network’s cultural impact.

While television anchored much of his public profile, he also starred in the coming-of-age sports film Varsity Blues (1999), playing backup quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon in a story about small-town football and adolescent pressures; the film has since become a cult favorite.

He went on to appear in ensemble films such as The Rules of Attraction (2002), a black comedy-drama based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel, in which he portrayed the unpredictable Sean Bateman. Other film credits included Texas Rangers (2001), the political thriller Formosa Betrayed (2010), Labor Day (2013), and the horror-comedy Bad Hair (2020).

On television beyond Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek found roles that ranged from drama to comedy. He played an exaggerated version of himself on the cult sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), appeared as FBI Agent Elijah Mundo on CSI: Cyber (2015–2016), and portrayed Matt Bromley in season 1 of the acclaimed drama Pose (2018). His other television credits included guest roles on How I Met Your Mother and Ugly Betty.

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children. Throughout his illness, he used his platform to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection.