US actor James Van Der Beek — known for his titular role in the American series “Dawson’s Creek” and the movie “Varsity Blues” — died on Wednesday at the age of 48, his wife announced on social media.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days courage, faith, and grace,” his wife Kimberly wrote on Instagram.
“Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
The statement was published on the social media accounts of Van Der Beek and his wife.
Van Der Beek’s battle with cancer
In 2024, Van Der Beek announced that he was being treated for colorectal cancer after it was discovered during a routine colonoscopy.
Following his diagnosis, he became a prominent advocate for early detection and screening for colorectal cancer and made a number of daytime TV appearances.
A “Dawson’s Creek” reunion event took place in September and was organized to support him and the charity F Cancer.
He appeared projected onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York during a live reading of the show’s pilot episode.
Van Der Beek played Dawson Leery in “Dawson’s Creek,” which had a run of six seasons from 1998 until 2003. The series followed a group of friends making their way through the stages of adolescence together.
He also starred in films such as Kevin Smith’s 2001 comedy “Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back,” “The Big Bang” and “Labour Day,” among many others.
Tributes for Van Der Beek
“James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed,” said “Dawson’s Creek” co-star Busy Philipps.
“Sending love and light to your beautiful family. James was a giant. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us — he inspired us to be better in all ways,” said fellow “Dawson’s Creek” star Chad Michael Murray.
“While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world,” said actress Sarah Michelle Gellar.
A GoFundMe effort was launched to raise $500,000 (€421,000) to help support Van Der Beek’s widow and six children, and it managed to raise more than $200,000 less than an hour after it was launched.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez and Roshni Majumdar