The Dawson’s Creek star passed away on Wednesday morning (11), according to his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek. James Van Der Beek had been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since August 2023.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning,” Kimberly wrote, saying her husband faced his final days with “courage, faith, and grace.”
“There is so much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for serene privacy as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend,” she concluded.
James Van Der Beek shared his battle with the illness in November 2024. At the time, the actor told People magazine that he was focused on his health and his family.
“There is reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he added. He discovered the cancer during a routine colonoscopy in August 2023. He reported that he underwent the exam believing it was just a “change in bowel habits.”
He revealed that the hardest part of the entire process was telling those closest to him that he was ill, but he was grateful for the support he received from many.
“I’m not the person who asks for help. It’s not in my DNA. And I thought that was a good way to be — until cancer. The way friends showed up was such a beautiful experience,” he commented.
James Van Der Beek became famous for starring in the classic ’90s series “Dawson’s Creek” alongside Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams for six seasons.
Born in Connecticut in 1977, he was introduced to acting through theater in a production of Grease, where he played Danny Zuko.
The actor also starred in several film and television hits, such as “Varsity Blues,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23.”
James Van Der Beek met his wife in 2009, shortly after his first marriage ended.
The couple had six children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, and Gwendolyn, 7, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 4.
Photos: Instagram @vanderjames. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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