James Van Der Beek, the beloved Dawson’s Creek star, has died, his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed. He was 48.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” Kimberly announced in a statement on Wednesday. “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.”
Van Der Beek, born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Conn., was best known for his portrayal of the titular Steven Spielberg-loving teen filmmaker, Dawson Leery, on The WB’s Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003. In addition to starring on the hit teen drama, which is recognized for paving the way for other teen shows in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Van Der Beek also starred in the teen football movie Varsity Blues (1999), for which he won an MTV Movie Award.
James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
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BleedingBleu
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James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
’Dawson's Creek' star James Van Der Beek dies at 48, following years-long battle with colorectal cancer
Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
Much too young.
RIP
RIP
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FrankTheTank
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
I watch Varsity Blues whenever it is on. Love it. Leaves behind his wife and 6 kids. Very sad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0bBU7107tc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0bBU7107tc
Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
It's very sad, and I feel genuinely bad that the sadness makes me immediately think of his ugly crying face that became a meme, which will probably be what he is most remembered for a decade or two from now.
Which itself is also very, very sad.
Which itself is also very, very sad.
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Jeff Goldblum
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
He will be remembered as Dawson Leery, hopeless romantic who was backstabbed by that piece of [shirt] Pacey Witter.
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FrankTheTank
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
His GoFundMe is over $1.4 million. The dude had to sell everything off...really sad.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... 41133.html
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... p_catchall
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... 41133.html
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... p_catchall
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BleedingBleu
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
Left behind 6 kids, too. Very tough to know that.FrankTheTank wrote: ↑12 Feb 2026 10:52 am His GoFundMe is over $1.4 million. The dude had to sell everything off...really sad.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... 41133.html
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... p_catchall
I’m unsure how insurance would work for his situation, whether he had to cover himself as an independent contractor or if he was a member of SAG and had a policy through them.
Lord knows a battle with Cancer and all the drugs aren’t cheap.
Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
Are you drunk? Don’t post when you’re drunk.
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BleedingBleu
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
Steven Spielberg Donates Staggering Amount to James Van Der Beek's GoFundMe After Actor's Death
Pretty cool. I didn’t know there was a connection (didn’t watch Dawson’s Creek)
Pretty cool. I didn’t know there was a connection (didn’t watch Dawson’s Creek)
On Thursday, February 12, Spielberg, 79, and his wife,Kate Capshaw, donated $25,000 to a GoFundMe established to support the Dawson’s Creek star’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children after the actor’s death from colorectal cancer on Wednesday, February. 11.
On Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek portrayed aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery, a character who famously idolized Spielberg. During a cast reunion event in September benefiting F Cancer and Van Der Beek, the legendary director made a virtual appearance, telling the actor, “Dawson, you made it. Maybe someday, I will get to have a Dawson’s closet.”
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FrankTheTank
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cel ... p_catchall
Well this is sure to make some people very unhappy. I mean, I get it, they wanted their home in place for the family, but sure some people donating to the fund probably don't love to read this.
Well this is sure to make some people very unhappy. I mean, I get it, they wanted their home in place for the family, but sure some people donating to the fund probably don't love to read this.
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George Zipp
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Re: James Van Der Beek Loses Battle to Cancer
RIP Mox. Wayyyyy too young.
Sorry to hijack a bit but the thread title reminded me immediately of the late great Norm MacDonald. He did a bit about battling cancer. Great stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6xU8D3dLlM
Sorry to hijack a bit but the thread title reminded me immediately of the late great Norm MacDonald. He did a bit about battling cancer. Great stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6xU8D3dLlM