James Van Der Beek, the actor who became one of television’s defining teen idols at the turn of the millennium, has died at 48.
His family announced that he passed away peacefully after battling colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he publicly shared in 2024. In a statement, they described his final days as marked by courage, faith and grace, asking for privacy as they grieve the loss of a husband, father, son and friend.
Van Der Beek will forever be linked to Dawson’s Creek, the WB drama that aired from 1998 to 2003 and helped shape a generation of teen television. As aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery, he portrayed a sensitive, hyper-articulate high schooler navigating love, friendship and ambition in the fictional town of Capeside. The series became a cultural touchstone, launching the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson and setting the stage for future teen dramas that explored romance and sexuality with unusual candor.
At the height of the show’s popularity, Van Der Beek also starred in the 1999 football drama Varsity Blues, playing an intellectual backup quarterback thrust into the spotlight. The role proved he could carry a feature film and broadened his appeal beyond television audiences.
Even years after Dawson’s Creek ended, its impact followed him. A tearful scene from the show resurfaced online and became one of the internet’s most recognizable reaction GIFs. While the clip reduced years of work to a few looping seconds, Van Der Beek eventually leaned into the joke, recreating the moment in a self-aware nod to fans.
That willingness to poke fun at his heartthrob image became a defining feature of his later career. He appeared in comedic sketches, played exaggerated versions of himself and took on roles that undercut the earnest leading man persona that first made him famous. Television appearances on series such as CSI: Cyber and How I Met Your Mother showcased his range, while his mockumentary What Would Diplo Do? highlighted his comedic timing.
In 2024, despite ongoing health challenges, Van Der Beek made a surprise video appearance at a Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event in New York, thanking fans and supporters. The following year, he appeared on The Masked Singer, revealing another layer of his performance instincts when he was unmasked as Griffin.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Van Der Beek discovered acting as a teenager after a football injury sidelined him from sports. He pursued theater roles before leaving Drew University early when he was cast in Dawson’s Creek. Decades later, he returned to the campus to accept an honorary degree recognizing both his career and personal character.
Throughout his career, Van Der Beek grappled with the challenge of stepping out from the shadow of a cultural phenomenon. Ultimately, he chose to embrace it, combining sincerity with humor in a way that resonated with longtime fans.
He is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children.