James Van Der Beek, the actor who recently passed away (on February 11, 2026) at the age of 48 after battling colorectal cancer.
He was born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, USA. His full name was James David Van Der Beek. He began acting as a teenager after a football injury forced him to step away from sports for a while—at that point, he got involved in school theater and fell in love with it.
His main career highlights:
His big break and massive fame came with the role of Dawson Leery in the iconic 90s teen drama Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003). It was one of the most successful shows for teenagers at the time, and he became an idol for millions of young people—a sensitive, romantic guy dealing with love, friendship, and life in a small coastal town.
Notable films: Varsity Blues (1999)—where he played a high-school football player under intense pressure (famous line: “I don’t want your life!”), Texas Rangers (2001), The Rules of Attraction (2002), Labor Day (2013), and others.
In later years: He played exaggerated versions of himself in the sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), an FBI agent in CSI: Cyber (2015–2016), and had a role in the first season of Pose (2018) on FX.
He had a career spanning over 30 years, with roles in TV, film, and theater.
Personal life:
He was married twice: First to actress Heather McComb (2003–2010, divorced).
Second to Kimberly Brook (since 2010)—they had 6 children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah (the kids were young, with the oldest around 14 and the youngest about 3 years old at the time).
The family lived on a large ranch in Texas (officially purchased just one month before his death for around $6.7 million), where he spent his final days.
Health and passing:
He was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer around 2023 (some sources say the diagnosis came in 2023, others note he went public in 2024).
He publicly shared his diagnosis in November 2024, openly discussing symptoms (such as changes in bowel habits) and strongly encouraging people—especially younger adults under 50—to get screened early with colonoscopies, amid the rising rates of colorectal cancer in that age group.
The battle lasted about 2.5 years: surgery, chemotherapy, and more.
He passed away on February 11, 2026, surrounded by his family, with courage, faith, and grace—as his wife wrote in her Instagram tribute.
His death highlighted the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer among younger people in the US and turned him into a symbol for the importance of early screening.
After his passing, fans quickly set up a GoFundMe for the family (to help with medical bills and support the children), which raised over $1–2 million in a short time—despite his fame, the treatment costs were enormous, and he had spoken openly about financial struggles in Hollywood.
He will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful man deeply focused on family, faith, and humanity—a truly heartbreaking loss for fans of the ’90s generation.