Actor James Van Der Beek, who starred in the American adolescent drama Dawson’s Creek, passed away at the age of 48 following a diagnosis of colon cancer.
His family wrote, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” in a message that was shared on his social media pages. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
The celebrity only announced in November 2024, despite receiving a diagnosis in the latter part of 2023. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he starred in several well-known television programs and motion pictures, such as Varsity Blues and the cult favorite Dawson’s Creek.
In an interview with Business Insider, he said that he started to experience irregular bowel movements, a common indication of bowel cancer. He stopped drinking coffee before an examination to see whether it might help.
His illness was discovered to be at stage three, meaning that it had spread to nearby lymph nodes. He added to Business Insider, “I’ve learned a lot. If I can save anyone from having to go through this, that’s magic.”
“Dawson’s Creek,” which aired on The WB from 1998 to 2003, was inextricably linked to him. The show featured a group of friends from high school as they discovered their place in life, discovered love, and formed genuine friendships.
Van Der Beek, who was under 20, portrayed 15-year-old Dawson Leery, who wanted to become a Steven Spielberg-caliber filmmaker. “Dawson’s Creek,” where Paula Cole’s melancholic theme song, “I Don’t Want To Wait,” helped define Teens and young adults found the WB to be a safe refuge because of its candid discussion of sexuality and hyper-articulate conversation.
