James Van Der Beek. Credit: Media Punch, MediaPunch Inc / Alamy / Profimedia
American actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his role in the series Dawson's Creek, died at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer, according to the BBC and The Guardian.
The announcement was made by the artist's family on his social media accounts.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning,” according to the statement. “He met his last days with courage, faith and grace.”
The actor was diagnosed with cancer in the second half of 2023, but revealed the news to the public only in November 2024.
Father-of-six James Van Der Beek starred in several popular TV shows and movies in the late '90s and early 2000s, two of the most famous being Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues.
“If I can save someone from going through that, it's magical”
In an interview with Business Insider, he said he began experiencing changes in bowel movements, a common symptom of colon cancer. He stopped drinking coffee to see if it helped him before getting a screening. The scan showed she had the disease and it was stage 3, meaning it had spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Colorectal cancer develops from growths in the inner lining of the colon and can spread if left untreated, according to the Cleveland Clinic. More men develop this disease than women. The increase in the number of screenings has helped in the early detection of the disease, reducing the number of people who die from colorectal cancer, the medical unit also notes.
After being diagnosed with the disease, Van Der Beek tried to draw attention to the importance of screening.
“I've learned a lot. If I can save someone from going through that, it's a magical thing,” the actor told Business Insider.
Born in Connecticut on March 8, 1977, Van Der Beek initially preferred sports, but a severe concussion sustained in soccer as a child changed his course. Doctors advised him not to play sports for a year, so shortly after that he turned his attention to acting and was cast as the lead, Danny Zuko, in a school production of Grease.
