James Van Der Beek Passes Away At 48 After Battle With Cancer

The cancer tragedy strikes Hollywood again, as James Van Der Beek succumbs at 48.

The "Dawson's Creek" star took his final breath after a challenging battle with colorectal cancer. His passing was announced on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

James Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023, but he did not reveal his condition until November 2024. He kept a positive attitude throughout the heartbreaking ordeal, earning fans' love and support.

According to new reports, Van Der Beek has taken his final breath following his battle with colorectal cancer. A rep for the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the news while speaking to TMZ.

The rep revealed that the call about Van Der Beek's passing was reported to their office at 6:44 AM. However, no cause of death was given. The news follows a confirmation of the actor's death in a joint Instagram post with his wife, Kimberly.

The post featured a picture of Van Der Beek alongside a message about his passing. "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," the post read.

The post noted that there was plenty to share about Van Der Beek's "wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time," with details promising to arrive in the days to come. Until then, Van Der Beek's family asked for the privacy to grieve their "loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

Many celebrities reacted to the heartbreaking update with their condolences, with many dropping tributes to honor Van Der Beek's legacy. "The world lost a great man," stop-motion animator Kevin Parry lamented. Actress and singer Jamie-Lynn Sigler echoed similar sentiments, writing:

"We are the luckiest to have been part of his tribe. Fly high, James. You were everything good in this world."

Canadian actress Kathleen Robertson penned her love to Kimberly and the rest of the Van Der Beek family, while actor Mehcad Brooks reflected on his last days with the deceased. "Being there with you these past days has been the greatest honor of my life. Until we meet again, my beautiful brother," he wrote.

Van Der Beek's passing comes months after the actor launched a bittersweet auction to raise money for his cancer battle.

The Blast covered the news in November 2025, reporting that Van Der Beek had teamed up with Propstore for its Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. The event was scheduled to take place December 5–7, 2025.

The auction featured several items from Van Der Beek's personal collection, including wardrobe pieces and set items, many of which were made available to the public for the very first time. Every dollar from the sale was meant to fund Van Der Beek's cancer treatment.

Among the coveted items was the necklace from "Dawson's Creek." Van Der Beek's titular character had gifted the necklace to Joey for prom, and it was estimated to sell for $26,400 to $52,800. Dawson's iconic flannel shirt also made the auction list.

There were also memorabilia from Van Der Beek's other famous projects, such as "Varsity Blues." The cleats the actor wore during games, and the iconic West Canaan Coyotes hat, made the auction block, making it a bittersweet experience for Van Der Beek.

The auction wasn't the only way Van Der Beek raised money for his cancer treatment, as his pal Paul Walter Hauser also chipped in. Last month, The Blast reported that Hauser had collaborated with Cameo after learning about the auction.

Hauser said that as a father and fellow entertainer, he understood the value of memorabilia and items from one's career and believed they should be inherited by the actor's children. On that note, he could not sit still while Van Der Beek auctioned his treasured memories to raise money.

Hauser implored fans and interested donors to reshare his post as he hoped to raise $20,000 for Van Der Beek through recorded Cameo videos. The TV personality hoped to hit the goal by March 1, 2026; unfortunately, Van Der Beek did not live long enough to see the fundraiser's conclusion.

Days after the December 2025 auction, The Blast shared that Van Der Beek had cleared the air on his shocking transformation. He sparked concerns about his well-being in September 2025 when he appeared virtually during a "Dawson's Creek" reunion event.

Van Der Beek looked significantly thinner, and many suspected his appearance was a side effect of cancer. However, the late actor noted in an interview that the drastic change in his physique was caused by a nasty stomach.

According to Van Der Beek, every little illness tends to become exaggerated with cancer. He assured fans that his weight loss did not signify dire problems, but confessed that it wasn't easy living with colorectal cancer. "It's required more of me," he said at the time.

Rest in peace, James Van Der Beek.