James Van Der Beek dead at 48 after colorectal cancer battle

James Van Der Beek, the beloved Dawson’s Creek actor, has died at 48 after battling colorectal cancer. A statement posted on his Instagram said, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning.” It 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.” He had been quietly fighting stage 3 cancer since August 2023 and disclosed the diagnosis publicly in November 2024 after learning a tabloid planned to publish the news.

He told People magazine, “I’ve been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before,” adding he was “in a good place and feeling strong.” Van Der Beek and his family said treatment had taken a financial toll, and he sold autographed Varsity Blues merchandise to help fund his care.

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