James Van Der Beek Dies at Age 48

By: Madeline Alaimo

The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of James Van Der Beek, who passed away at age 48 after his fight with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He revealed his cancer diagnosis in late 2024, feeling optimistic and taking a proactive approach to treatment. Most known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek was a prominent figure in television beginning as early on as the late 1990s. 

Van Der Beek’s role of Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek made him a defining face of teen drama series’, as the genre started to become very popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s. His portrayal of Dawson is symbolic because it represents a shift towards a young male character demonstrating raw emotion and vulnerability during that time period. Shifting away from a lot of “90s tough-guy” stereotypes, his character opened a lot of doors for young male characters to show more emotion and be more sensitive in many roles. 

Before Dawson’s Creek, he made his professional off-broadway debut, playing the role of Fergus in “Finding the Sun”. He even starred as Mox in “Varsity Blues” (1999), and made guest appearances on “One Tree Hill”, “How I Met Your Mother”, and so much more. He also competed on the dance competition show “Dancing With The Stars”, placing 5th with his partner Emma Slater on Season 28. 

His legacy will always live on in the entertainment industry, and the impact he has left on his family and previous co-stars is tremendously substantial. His family started a GoFundMe page to collect donations to help support his children’s education and living expenses after his medical care took a lot of funds from the family. After his family shared the news of his passing via Instagram, they ask for “peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”