James Van Der Beek, who played the title character of Dawson’s Creek and lent his voice to some Disney projects, has passed away at the age of 48.

Van Der Beek had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023, and made his diagnosis public in November 2024.

Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, announced his passing with a social media post.

Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

Van Der Beek portrayed Dawson Leery in 122 episodes of Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2003. His other roles include Jonathon “Mox” Moxon in Varsity Blues (1999), a fictionalized version of himself in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), and FBI Agent Elijah Mundo in CSI: Cyber (2015-2016).

For Disney, he provided the voice of Pazu for the 1998 English dub of Castle in the Sky and voiced Boris Hauntley, the father of Vee in the animated Vampirina series (2017-2021). He played Lincoln Rogers Dunnison in Texas Rangers (2001), produced by Disney subsidiary Miramax. And he was Matt Bromley in the first season of FX’s Pose (2018).

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