James Van Der Beek has died at 48, his wife Kimberly confirmed in a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram. She wrote: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning.” She added, “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” and asked for “peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

James and Kimberly shared six children—Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah. In November 2024, the actor revealed he had been diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer. The illness was discovered after a routine colonoscopy in 2023, following what he described as “a change in bowel habits,” which he initially thought required only dietary adjustments.

After the diagnosis, he publicly shared: “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.” He remained hopeful, saying, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

Last November, Van Der Beek announced plans to sell memorabilia from his career to help fund treatment. “I’ve been storing these treasures for years… and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now,” he said.

Best known for playing Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2003, he became a familiar face to a generation of viewers. Following news of his passing, friends and co-stars paid tribute. Jenna Johnson called him “an incredible father, husband, artist, and so much more,” while Jamie-Lynn Sigler wrote, “Fly high James. You were everything good in this world.”