James Van Der Beek, the actor known best for “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues,” has died of colorectal cancer.
He was 48.
Van Der Beek’s death was announced with a post on his Instagram pageWednesday, Feb. 11, per USA Today.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” a caption that accompanied of a photo him read.
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. 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,” the post said.
Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023. He went public with his illness in November 2024.
He continued working and appeared on shows like the CW’s “Walker” and Amazon Prime Video’s comedy “Overcompensating.”
Van Der Beek also competed against fellow celebrities on Fox’s “The Masked Singer” on 2025.
