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James Van Der Beek, best known for his breakout role on Dawson's Creek, has died at the age of 48.
The actor, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, leaves behind a legacy that spans iconic teen dramas and beloved guest appearances across television.
Van Der Beek rose to fame in the late 1990s when he was cast as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, a show that aired on WB Network from 1998 to 2003.
The series, which ran for six seasons, catapulted Van Der Beek into international recognition.
It also launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson.
Michelle Williams completed the central quartet as the rebellious Jen Lindley. Together, the group became one of the most iconic ensembles of teen drama television.
On the series, Katie Holmes played Joey Potter, Dawson's childhood love, while Joshua Jackson portrayed Pacey Witter, Joey's true romantic interest.
James Van Der Beek's cause of death
Van Der Beek had documented his health issues following a two-year battle with colon cancer.
He is survived by Kimberly, his wife of over 15 years, and his six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
Reflecting on his early fame, Van Der Beek admitted to People in 2024 that handling global recognition was challenging.
"Getting recognized is something that took me a long time... I had a big learning curve on it," he said.
"It was a different interaction back then. Now, it's a lot more grown-up, and back then, I was so tortured about it because I loved being an observer and a fly on the wall and having random conversations with people."
He added: "I remember being so broken up about the fact that those random conversations or random acts of kindness were now taken away because there was this thing called 'celebrity' in between me and somebody else, and it became the center of attention."
Despite these challenges, Van Der Beek ultimately cherished his time on Dawson's Creek and remained close to his castmates.
In August 2025, a reunion live reading of the show's pilot episode was scheduled as a charity event for the nonprofit F Cancer and to support Van Der Beek during his illness.
However, he was unable to attend due to his declining health. In a pre-recorded video, he expressed his disappointment.
"I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together.
"I can't believe I'm not there. I can't believe I don't get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person."
A versatile and beloved actor
Beyond Dawson's Creek, Van Der Beek enjoyed a varied career with appearances on TV shows, including Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, One Tree Hill, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
But it was Dawson's Creek where he made his name, and Van Der Beek credited his time on the sitcom as being a lesson in comedy acting.
"I learned a lot about grounding comedy and balance as well as how to get laughs without the audience feeling sorry for you," he said.
"We wanted things to blow up in this guy's face, but the counterbalance to that was he had to be really good at what he does instantly, in a savant-ish kind of way, because otherwise, it's sad.
"We could have him be completely clueless and totally narcissistic, but then also very sincere in everything that he says, so it was about finding that formula that worked.'
His versatility allowed him to transition from teen heartthrob to respected television actor, leaving a lasting impact on both audiences and colleagues.
Fans, friends, and co-stars continue to mourn the loss of Van Der Beek, whose work and charisma made him a defining figure of late-90s television and beyond.
His contributions to pop culture and his enduring warmth will be remembered by generations of viewers.