James Van Der Beek, best known for playing Dawson Leery in the teen drama Dawson's Creek, has died at the age of 48. His family confirmed that he 'passed away peacefully' on the morning of 11 February, weeks after his final social media post celebrating his daughter's birthday.
In a statement on Instagram, his family wrote: 'Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. ... For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.'
Former co-star Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter, shared a handwritten note on Instagram, describing Van Der Beek's 'bravery, compassion, selflessness, strength' and recalling 'the laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs'. She said: 'I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James' journey.'
Other Dawson's Creek cast members also paid tribute. Mary-Margaret Humes, who played his mother, called him 'my gracious warrior'. Kerr Smith wrote: 'I'm so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I'll miss him deeply.' Busy Philipps shared throwback photos and offered her condolences to his wife and six children. Krysten Ritter, his co-star in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, remembered him as a 'beautiful human inside and out'. Alfonso Ribeiro from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air said he was 'broken' and described Van Der Beek as his 'true friend brother and life guide'.
Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023 and had been undergoing treatment. Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, starts in the large bowel or rectum. Symptoms can include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, and abdominal pain, according to Cancer Research UK.
