James Van Der Beek, the American actor recognized for his roles in ’90s TV drama Dawson’s Creek and film Varsity Blues, died on Wednesday after a battle with Stage 3 colorectal most cancers. He was 48.
His household introduced his loss of life in an Instagram put up, writing, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek handed peacefully this morning. He met his closing days with braveness, religion, and beauty.”
“There’s a lot to share relating to his needs, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. These days will come. For now, we ask for peaceable privateness as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and buddy,” the assertion continued.
Van Der Beek that he was being handled for colorectal most cancers.
He not too long ago made a shock video look in September at a Dawson’s Creek reunion charity occasion in New York Metropolis after beforehand dropping out resulting from sickness.
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The late actor starred in Varsity Blues and on tv in CSI: Cyber as FBI particular agent Elijah Mundo, however was greatest recognized for his function because the title character Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003.
“It’s powerful to compete with one thing that was the cultural phenomenon that Dawson’s Creek was,” he advised Vulture in 2013. “It ran for therefore lengthy. That’s a whole lot of hours enjoying one character in entrance of individuals. So it’s pure that they affiliate you with that.”
Whereas nonetheless on Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek hosted Saturday Night time Stay — the musical visitor was Everlast — and landed a plum function in Varsity Blues, enjoying a second-string highschool quarterback who leaps into the breach when the star suffers an damage.
The actor most not too long ago appeared in comedy TV sequence Overcompensating and is ready to star in Elle, a Legally Blonde prequel sequence premiering in July.
Born and raised in Cheshire, Conn., Van Der Beek began performing at 13 after struggling a concussion enjoying soccer that prevented him from enjoying for a 12 months on physician’s orders.
Throughout this time, he landed the function of Danny Zuko in his college manufacturing of Grease.
He caught with theatre and earned a scholarship to Drew College in New Jersey, however left college early to star in Dawson’s Creek. In 2024, he returned to campus to simply accept an honorary diploma for his “selfless service and exemplary dedication to the mission of Drew,” the college stated.
He’s survived by his spouse, Kimberly, and 6 kids: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
— With recordsdata from The Related Press
