Hollywood is mourning yet another great loss of an iconic artist. James Van Der Beek, the beloved actor everyone remembers as Dawson from ‘Dawson’s Creek’, passed away at 48 after a tough fight with stage 3 colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, broke the news, according to People, and since then, tributes started pouring in from fans, old co-stars, and just about everyone who’d ever watched him on screen.The same portal reported that James, the “loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend,” passed away on February 11, 2026, surrounded by his family at home. Cancer had been part of his life since he got the diagnosis back in 2023, and he faced it head-on. Kimberly said his last days were full of courage, faith, and grace. She also asked for some quiet while the family grieves.

James Van Der Beek: Life with family and 6 kids

Although most of his fans know James Van Der Beek as Dawson from ‘Dawson’s Creek’, there was more to the actor than just the professional world surrounding TV and movies. Away from Hollywood, Van Der Beek was all about his family. He and Kimberly married in 2010 and went on to have six kids: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. Appreciating his marriage to Kimberly, Van Der Beek told Parade in last Auguts, “I married the right person, really,” adding, “I’m more in love than ever, and more in awe of her than ever, and how she’s able to handle everything that I had to drop when I got diagnosed, and everything that she does, and just what it is to be that loved by somebody.”Afterwards, the Van Der Beek family moved to a ranch in Texas, and James loved the peace and space. He always said fatherhood was his greatest honor. The kids, he’d often say, taught him patience and real, unconditional love. In fact, Van Der Beek told Parade that their kids were “the most healing thing” that he “could possibly get.”“I really feel like that’s the best medicine, to be around all that love and just to see their support and to show them,” he continued. “You can talk about resilience. And I try really, really as best I can to teach resilience in my kids. But I think the best thing I could do is show them resilience.”After James’ demise, friends and fans quickly rallied around his family. As reported by The Guardian, a GoFundMe sprang up to help with medical bills and secure the kids’ future. It blew past its goal, showing just how many lives James touched.

Who was James Van Der Beek?

James Van Der Beek started out in Connecticut, born in 1977, and by the late ‘90s, he was landing big roles. ‘Dawson’s Creek’ made him famous — a sensitive, thoughtful teen who became a face of that era’s TV. He didn’t stop there. He starred in ‘Varsity Blues’, ‘The Rules of Attraction’, and popped up in shows like ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and ‘CSI: Cyber’. Later, he even poked fun at himself, playing a wild version of “James Van Der Beek” on ‘Don’t Trust the B—- in ‘Apartment 23’.

James Van Der Beek: His battle with cancer

Van Der Beek first let fans in on his diagnosis in 2024, sharing pieces of his cancer journey online. He didn’t sugarcoat things, but he didn’t let it break his spirit either. Even at his lowest, he found ways to help others, as he talked about the importance of screenings and encouraged people going through the same fight. Moreover, James explained that his colorectal cancer diagnosis, which he was diagnosed with in 2023, had helped him to appreciate the “absolute gift” of his 15-year marriage. Even in the end, his family’s statement made it clear: James stayed brave until the very end.