James Van Der Beek, 'dawson's Creek' And 'varsity Blues' Star, Dies At 48

James Van Der Beek, nan character who endeared himself to a procreation of tv viewers arsenic nan prima of nan play bid “Dawson’s Creek,” died Wednesday.

He was 48.

“He met his last days pinch courage, faith, and grace,” Kimberly Van Der Beek, his wife, said connected Instagram. “There is overmuch to stock regarding his wishes, emotion for humanity and nan sacredness of time. Those days will come.”

“For now we inquire for serene privateness arsenic we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend,” she added.

In early November 2024, Van Der Beek announced he had been diagnosed pinch Stage 3 colorectal cancer, which develops successful nan colon aliases rectum.

“I’ve been dealing pinch this privately until now, getting curen and dialing successful my wide wellness pinch greater attraction than ever before,” Van Der Beek said successful a Nov. 3, 2024, post connected Instagram. “Please cognize that my family and I profoundly admit each nan emotion and support.”

He chronicled his acquisition surviving pinch crab connected Instagram, wherever he often paid tribute to his woman and children for their support.

Van Der Beek was champion known for playing Dawson Leery, nan earnest, introspective aspiring filmmaker astatine nan halfway of nan WB’s “Dawson’s Creek.” The show ran for six seasons, became a classical of nan teen play genre and later recovered caller life connected streaming services.

“The small aviator we changeable successful that mini municipality for that fledgling web aired, changed our lives and launched our careers,” Van Der Beek wrote successful a Jan. 25, 2018, post connected Instagram successful grant of nan show’s 20th anniversary.

The bid turned Van Der Beek into a younker heartthrob and catapulted him into nan nationalist limelight. He appeared connected mag covers and regularly recovered himself surrounded by adoring teenagers — a sensation of pre-internet fame he later discussed pinch a reside of amusement.

Van Der Beek starred alongside Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson successful nan bid "Dawson's Creek."Hulton Archive / Getty Images file

“When it first started happening, nan group who were coming up to maine were teenage girls who were screaming,” Van Der Beek told People magazine successful 2024, reflecting connected his early brushes pinch fame.

“I person what I telephone nan lamest shape of PTSD ever, which is erstwhile I perceive teenage girls go, ‘Oooh!’ When I perceive that titter, I spell into a still abstraction ... [then] I’m like: Dude, get complete yourself,” he added.

James David Van Der Beek was calved connected March 8, 1977, successful Cheshire, Connecticut. He caught nan acting bug arsenic a child, appearing successful various schoolhouse plays earlier making his master debut successful an off-Broadway accumulation of Edward Albee’s “Finding nan Sun.”

He landed his first movie in installments successful nan 1995 coming-of-age play “Angus” and nan pursuing twelvemonth appeared successful nan independent romance “I Love You, I Love You Not.”

Then came “Dawson’s Creek,” which premiered successful 1998. The series, group successful a seaside municipality successful Massachusetts, revolved astir Dawson’s relationships pinch Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson).

In nan years “Creek” was connected nan air, Van Der Beek nabbed a drawstring of movie roles. He played a precocious schoolhouse backmost successful “Varsity Blues,” released successful 1999 to coagulated box-office returns, and cameoed successful nan first “Scary Movie” (2000) and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” (2001).

“Creek” ended its tally successful May 2003 aft 128 episodes. Van Der Beek followed it up pinch a operation of movie and tv parts. He appeared connected episodes of nan shows “Criminal Minds,” “Ugly Betty,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “One Tree Hill,” “Medium” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

In nan early 2010s, Van Der Beek scored a notable meta domiciled arsenic a fictionalized type of himself connected nan short-lived ABC sitcom “Don’t Trust nan B---- successful Apartment 23.” He was “James Van Der Beek,” an character struggling to get his wobbly profession backmost connected track.

Van Der Beek successful Los Angeles successful May.JC Olivera / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

“It was a really nosy characteristic to play because he was wholly without shame,” Van Der Beek told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014. “It’s nosy to mock nan business, and it’s nosy to support your ain ego successful check, too. You consciousness secure erstwhile you’re perpetually destroying each those small things you support precious arsenic an actor. It’s a very liberating feeling.”

In caller years, Van Deer Beek starred successful nan two-season CBS procedural “CSI: Cyber” and appeared successful nan first play of nan FX play bid “Pose.”

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. He was antecedently joined to character Heather McComb.