Dawson’s Creek alum James Van Der Beek died on February 11, 2026. He was 48 years old and had been battling cancer in the last two years of his life. James is survived by his six children, all of whom he shared with his wife, Kimberly. Although he went public with his diagnosis in 2024, most of the world was shocked by how much he’d physically changed before his death.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” an Instagram post shared to James’ account read. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Below, learn about James’ final days and how he died.
What Happened to James Van Der Beek?
James was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023, though he didn’t announce it until November 2024.
“Each year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I’m one of them,” James wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “There’s no playbook for how announce these things, but I’d planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon … to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms. But that plan had to be altered early this morning when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news.”
The late Varsity Blues actor noted that he’d “been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in [his] overall health with greater focus than ever before.”
“I’m in a good place and feeling strong,” James added at the time. “It’s been quite the initiation, and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.
How Did James Van Der Beek Die? His Cause of Death
James died from his colorectal cancer. According to the Instagram announcement shared to his account on February 11, 2026, the Connecticut native “passed [away] peacefully.”
James Van Der Beek’s Most Famous Movies & TV Shows
Fans, of course, recognize James for playing the role of Dawson Leery in the hit TV series Dawson’s Creek.
Among his most notable film credits are Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, The Rules of Attraction, Formosa Betrayed, Labor Day and Bad Hair.
