Khaberni - Actor James Van Der Beek, the star of the famous '90s series "Dawson’s Creek", passed away on Wednesday at the age of 49, according to a statement published on his official Instagram account. His agent, Whitney Tancrid, confirmed the news of his death.
The statement mentioned: "He faced his last days with courage, faith, and acceptance. There is much to say about his legacy, his love for humanity, and his belief in the sanctity of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for respect for our privacy during this difficult time as we mourn our husband, father, son, brother, and beloved friend."
Van Der Beek had announced in November 2024 that he was diagnosed with stage three colon and rectal cancer.
Following his death, his wife Kimberly, with whom he had six children, shared a link on social media to a fundraising campaign, asking for support as Van Der Beek's illness had financially burdened the family.
The campaign page stated: "The costs of James's treatment and his long battle with cancer have drained the family's resources. They are doing their utmost to stay in their home, ensure their children’s education continues, and maintain some stability during this extremely difficult time."
Van Der Beek was born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, and was the oldest of three siblings. His passion for acting started in middle school, and by the age of 15, he expressed to his mother his desire to audition professionally.
He once recounted: "My mother didn’t stop me from pursuing my dream. She took me to New York City and supported me at every step."
Shortly after, he featured in the play "Finding the Sun" off-Broadway, then won a scholarship to Drew University in New Jersey.
Subsequently, he played roles in the cinema, including "Rick Sanford" in the movie "Angus" in 1995, and a minor role in the movie "I Love You, I Love You Not" starring Claire Danes.
Later, Van Der Beek auditioned for the lead role in the series "Dawson’s Creek", which made him a star.
In a discussion with Larry King, Van Der Beek explained how he initially dismissed the idea of portraying the character "Dawson Leery", a teenage movie enthusiast from New England who matures alongside his childhood friends. The characters were originally written for 15-year-olds, while he was 20 when he auditioned.
He continued: "Then they called me again and offered me a trip to Los Angeles to audition, where I read the script and really liked it." He recounted how he read the script in front of various studio executives, and Kevin Williamson, the creator of the series.
Van Der Beek later discovered that some executives were reluctant to cast him, but Williamson had to insist, saying, "Listen, I created this character, I know it well, this young man is who I’m searching for."
The series "Dawson’s Creek" aired on WB channel for six seasons between 1998 and 2003, contributing to the launch of the art careers of many actors.
Van Der Beek also achieved significant success on the big screen in movies like "Varsity Blue" in 1999, "Texas Rangers" in 2001, and "The Rules of Attraction" in 2002, and participated in the "Dancing with the Stars" in its 28th season in 2019.
"Deserving of Love"
Van Der Beek remained active on social media relatively recently, sharing various reflections about his life and the special and important role he played as a father.
On his 48th birthday in March 2025, Van Der Beek shared a video in which he said that fatherhood was "the purpose" for his self-definition, but facing death forced him to reconsider ideals he once believed in.
He added: "If I were just a thin, weak man living alone in an apartment suffering from cancer, what would I be? I pondered, and the answer came to me: I am worthy of God’s love, merely by existing. And if I am worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of loving myself?"
