We are extremely heartbroken to report that, per TMZ, Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has died at 48. He had been battling colorectal cancer.
A rep for the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to the outlet that his death was reported to them at 6:44 a.m. on Wednesday. No cause of death has been revealed at this time. But as we mentioned, James has been fighting stage 3 colorectal cancer since late 2024. He revealed the devastating news to People in November of that year, saying:
“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family. There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum, which makes up “the large intestine (or large bowel), which is part of the digestive system,” and it “is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.” But amid the health battle, James was looking good and happy — even months after he unfortunately had to skip a Dawson’s Creek cast reunion event due to an illness in September. Now, he is gone. It’s such a sad day in Hollywood.
Perezcious readers know James had a few iconic roles over the years, including the titular character in Dawson’s Creek. He also starred in popular projects such as Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, Labor Day, Scary Movie, and Pose.
The beloved actor leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah. Our hearts break for them. We are sending our condolences to the family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, James…
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
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