James Van Der Beek

• 13 Feb 2026

On 11th February 2026, actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his roles in Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, has died at the age of 48 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.

• Born in 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek began acting on Broadway at 15 and rose to fame in 1997 with his breakthrough role as Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek.
• Over the years, he appeared in several popular films and television series, including Varsity Blues, Scary Movie, CSI, Texas Rangers, and How I Met Your Mother.