James Van Der Beek started his Hollywood career at a young age, finding a way to remain a relevant star in the entertainment industry until his untimely death.
Van Der Beek was best known for his leading role on Dawson’s Creek, where he starred as the titular character for all six seasons. The show featured a star-studded cast of Hollywood’s most prominent stars, including Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and more.
One year after landing his breakout role in the teen drama, Van Der Beek starred in the film Varsity Blues alongside Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Scott Caan and more. Throughout his career, Van Der Beek has had countless memorable roles in TV and film, including Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, CSI Cyber, Overcompensating and more.
Van Der Beek revealed in November 2024 that he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Two years later, the actor died at age 48. Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.
Keep scrolling for a look back on the actor’s life:
