Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek dies aged 48

James Van Der Beek, the star of Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues, has died at the age of 48, his family have said.

A post on his own Instagram account and that of his wife's said he had "met his final days with courage, faith and grace".

The actor revealed in 2024 he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The statement said: "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 shot to fame through Dawson's Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003, following a group of high school friends.

Then 20, he played 15-year-old Dawson Leery along with the show's other stars Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson. It was hugely popular, turning Van Der Beek into a household name and helping to draw a large audience of teens and young adults to its network, The WB.

He also starred in the film, Varsity Blues, in which he played Jonathan 'Mox' Moxon, the backup quarterback of a high school football team.

'He will always be family to me'

He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

Tributes were paid to Van Der Beek immediately after the news.

His Dancing With The Stars partner, Emma Slater, who appeared with him on the show in 2019, said: "I'm so devastated.

"He is and will always be family to me. Love you so much James. The man that you are, you can be proud of.

"So grateful that I got to be there to say goodbye to you."

'I am broken'

Actor and close friend, Alfonso Ribeiro, who starred in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, said: "I am broken. So happy to have him in my life. Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye."

Van Der Beek made a surprise video appearance at a Dawson's Creek reunion charity event, in September, in New York. He had previously dropped out due to illness.

He appeared projected on stage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre during a live reading of the show's pilot episode, to benefit F Cancer.

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Van Der Beek said: "Thank you to every single person here."

Van Der Beek was raised in Cheshire, Connecticut, and began acting aged 13 after suffering concussion playing football, which prevented him playing for a year on doctor's orders.

(c) Sky News 2026: Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek dies aged 48