“Dawson’s Creek”-Star Van Der Beek died | EUROtoday

In the cult collection “Dawson’s Creek” concerning the lives of youngsters within the fictional US city of Capeside, James Van Der Beek shone because the film-loving highschool pupil Dawson Leery. His greatest buddy is Joey Potter, performed by Katie Holmes. The younger forged additionally included Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson, who all later went on to have careers in Hollywood. The hit collection about rising up, with love worries and teenage fears, captivated an viewers of thousands and thousands over six seasons (1998-2003).

Newcomer Van Der Beek grew to become a teen star in a single day. Now the actor has died on the age of 48. He died “peacefully” within the morning, his household introduced on Instagram on Wednesday. Van Der Beek’s spokeswoman confirmed his loss of life when requested by dpa. He confronted his last days “with courage, faith and grace,” the household’s put up continued.

In November 2024, the daddy of six made it public that he had colon most cancers. “It’s cancer,” the then 47-year-old wrote on Instagram. Many individuals all over the world hear this analysis yearly, he continued. “And I’m one of them.” The illness had already been found in Van Der Beek the 12 months earlier than.

Van Der Beek spoke publicly about his sickness

The actor typically shared along with his 1.8 million followers on Instagram how he was feeling bodily and mentally. Van Der Beek stated in an emotional video message in November 2024 that he would converse overtly about his sickness to name on others to take prevention critically and get checked early. Such a analysis is frightening and overwhelming, however he believes in therapeutic – “miracles happen.”

In March 2025, on his forty eighth birthday, he appeared again on “the most difficult year” of his life. “I had to face my own mortality,” Van Der Beek stated. During remedy he was now not in a position to assist his household as a father, husband and cash earner. But via most cancers he gained the data to ask for assist and to be worthy of being beloved.

Above all, he confirmed gratitude to his household. After divorcing his first spouse, actress Heather McComb, he married producer Kimberly Brook in 2010. A month after the marriage, their first daughter was born, adopted by three extra women and two boys.

„Fuck Cancer“

The family was present in September 2025 when the cast of “Dawson’s Creek” gathered to support the cancer-stricken star at a charity event for the organization “Fuck Cancer”. Stars like Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson stood on stage in front of fans in New York to speak the pilot episode of the old hit series live. However, Van Der Beek had to cancel at short notice due to an acute viral illness. From his home in Austin (US state of Texas), he spoke out in a touching video, visibly affected by cancer.

Van Der Beek was already on the theater stage as a student – and, according to his own statements, dreamed of becoming famous as a singer on New York’s Broadway. His first film roles were in the comedy “Angus – totally cool” (1995) and alongside Claire Danes and Jude Law within the drama-romance “I Love You, I Love You Not”.

Then got here the “Dawson’s Creek” lead position, which made him a well-liked collection star. This was adopted by additional TV appearances in collection corresponding to “How I Met Your Mother”, “Apartment 23” and “Friends with Better Lives”. He additionally had success in entrance of the movie digicam. His position as a soccer participant within the drama “Varsity Blues” gained him the Best “Breakthrough Performance” trophy for Outstanding Newcomer on the 1999 MTV Movie Awards. He made different movie appearances in, amongst others, “Texas Rangers”, “The Rules of the Game”, “Labor Day”, “Downsizing” and in 2020 within the horror comedy “Bad Hair”.