Actor James Van Der Beek, widely recognised for his lead role in the American teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48 following a battle with bowel cancer.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” his family said in a statement shared on his social media accounts. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”

The actor had been diagnosed in the latter half of 2023, though he chose to make the news public in November 2024. He was a father of six and a familiar face on television and film during the late 1990s and early 2000s, earning widespread fame for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003. He also starred in the 1999 coming-of-age film Varsity Blues.

Speaking to Business Insider in August 2025, Van Der Beek said he initially noticed changes in his bowel movements — a common warning sign of colorectal cancer. At first, he stopped drinking coffee to see if his symptoms would improve, before eventually undergoing a screening test.

The test revealed stage three cancer, meaning the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Medical experts note that colorectal cancer affects more men than women. However, improved screening practices have contributed to earlier detection and a decline in mortality rates.

Van Der Beek previously described the emotional toll of his treatment, calling his “lowest point” the sense that he was losing the parts of himself he most identified with.

“All these beautiful things that I love, and I used to define myself as - a father, a provider, a husband - all that got taken away, or at least paused,” he said. “I had to sit there and say, 'Well, what am I?' And it was, 'I'm still worthy of love.'”

After going public with his diagnosis, he became an advocate for cancer screening and awareness.

“I've learned a lot,” he told Business Insider. “If I can save anyone from having to go through this, that's magic.”

Beyond Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, Van Der Beek appeared in several other projects over the years. He played a fictionalised version of himself in the cult comedy series Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and competed on the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars.

Despite his diagnosis, he continued to work. Earlier this year, he made a guest appearance in the Prime Video college comedy Overcompensating, remaining active in the industry while undergoing treatment.