James Van Der Beek, the US actor known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery on The WB’s ‘Dawson’s Creek’, has died at the age of 48.
His death was announced in a statement shared on Wednesday evening by his family on Instagram.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the statement reads in part.
The family also asked for privacy as they mourned “our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend”.
“There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend,” it added.
The Hollywood star was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in late 2023, though he chose not to share the news publicly until November 2024.
Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek was the eldest of three children. He started acting in middle school, and when he was 15, he told his mother he wanted to audition professionally.
A father of six, Beek rose to fame in the late ’90s and early 2000s through standout roles in the cult favourite ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and the football drama ‘Varsity Blues,’ among others.
In the wake of his demise, Van Der Beek’s wife Kimberly shared a link via social media to a GoFundMe campaign, requesting support.
She revealed that Van Der Beek’s illness left the family in “financial strain”.
