· James Van Der Beek has died at 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer
· His wife, Kimberly, shared the news in a statement, saying he faced his final days with “courage, faith, and grace,” and asked for privacy as the family grieves
· Van Der Beek revealed his diagnosis in late 2024, and continued working while also speaking publicly about the importance of cancer testing and research
· During his illness, he took part in a two hour special of “The Real Full Monty,” which centered on cancer awareness, screening, and fundraising for research
· He was best known for starring as Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek,” the teen drama that became a defining show of the late 1990s and early 2000s
· Over the years, he also appeared in films and series including “Varsity Blues,” “Scary Movie,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “One Tree Hill,” building a career that blended drama, comedy, and pop culture staples
· He is survived by his wife and their six children
· In the days following his death, friends launched a GoFundMe to support Kimberly and the children, writing that the long fight against cancer left the family financially strained
· The fundraiser says donations will go toward essential living expenses, bills, and the children’s education, and it has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars