As the World Turns Alum and Dawson’s Creek Star James Van Der Beek Dies at 48
Daytime alum James Van Der Beek died on February 11 at the age of 48, nearly two years after revealing is colorectal cancer diagnosis. The sad news was shared by his wife, Kimberly, in an Instagram post. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” she wrote. “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.”
In Memoriam
When Van Der Beek was just starting his acting career, one of his very first roles was playing the character of Stephen Anderson, the son of Tom Wiggin’s Kirk Anderson, on the CBS soap As the World Turns in 1995. Just three years later, the young actor found success in prime time playing Dawson Leery on the hit TV series Dawson’s Creek. Since then, Van Der Beek went gone on to star in the hit movie Varsity Blues and prime-time series like Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (playing a fictionalized version of himself), Friends With Better Lives, CSI: Cyber, and Pose. He will also be seen playing Dean Wilson in the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle when it premieres on Amazon Prime in July 2026. Van Der Beek married Kimberly Brook on August 1, 2010, and they have six children together: Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah.
The actor was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023 but didn’t go public with his condition until November 2024. “Telling people required a lot of energy,” Van Der Beek told People at the time. “I’m an empath. I like to take care of everybody. I’m a provider, and especially at that point, I was trying to be Superman and be all things to all people and be a dad and a provider. And so to have to tell people and my father and my siblings and my kids, it was really tricky.”
Back in September 2025, a staged reading of the pilot episode of Dawson’s Creek was held in New York City that reunited series stars Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley), Katie Holmes (Joey Potter), Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter) and others. Proceeds from the ticket sales went to the charity F Cancer and to Van Der Beek himself. Unfortunately, the actor was unable to attend the event due to his health, and so Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in for him.
Our thoughts are with Van Der Beek’s family and friends during this difficult time.
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