James Van Der Beek died at the age of 48 from stage 3 colorectal cancer.
His wife Kimberly Van Der Beek confirmed the news on Instagram on Wednesday February 11. Dawson Creek And College Blues The star has spent her final months focusing on her family, her faith and raising awareness about early detection.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning,” Kimberly wrote. “He lived his final days with courage, faith and grace. There is much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
Van Der Beek, a father of six, first revealed his diagnosis exclusively to People magazine in November 2024. At the time, he said he prioritized his health and spending time with Kimberly and their children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.
Even during his treatment, he pushed for awareness. “I learned a lot,” he told Business Insider. “If I can save someone from going through this, it’s magic.”
Just a few months ago, in September, he made a surprise virtual appearance at a Dawson Creek a charity meeting after illness forced him to miss the live show. Actors Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Busy Philipps reunited for a table read, with Lin-Manuel Miranda filling in for him.
The event also served as a fundraiser for F Cancer and a tribute to the actor.
