James Van Der Beek, the beloved American actor who became a global teen idol in the late 1990s as the lead in the hit drama Dawson’s Creek, has passed away at the age of 48.
The news was confirmed by his family through a heartbreaking post on his official Instagram account on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
According to the statement, the actor passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning surrounded by his loved ones.
The family’s statement highlighted the grace with which Van Der Beek faced his illness.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the post read. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
The family has requested privacy during this difficult time as they grieve the loss of a “loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
The Battle with Colorectal Cancer
According to American media reports, Van Der Beek had been battling stage 3 colorectal (bowel) cancer. While the diagnosis was made in late 2023, the actor chose to keep his struggle private for nearly a year, only going public with the news in November 2024 to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of early screening.
In recent months, he had been candid with fans about his journey, reflecting on his mortality and expressing deep gratitude for his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. He often described fatherhood as his “greatest honor” and “the best medicine.”
Born in 1977, Van Der Beek shot to superstardom in 1998 as Dawson Leery. Beyond Dawson’s Creek, he was known for starring in the cult classic football film Varsity Blues (1999) and The Rules of Attraction (2002).
Television: Shows like Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, where he played a satirical version of himself, and CSI: Cyber.
In his final year, he became a vocal advocate for cancer research, participating in charity events to help families struggling with medical costs.
James Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
