WILMINGTON — A little more than a year after announcing a cancer diagnosis to the public, actor James Van Der Beek — beloved in Wilmington for his role as Dawson Leery in the locally filmed teen drama “Dawson’s Creek” — has passed away at the age of 48.
Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, posted about his death on social media Wednesday, noting the actor’s final days were met with “courage, faith and grace.”
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“There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come,” she continued.
A father of six children, Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer after a routine colonoscopy in 2023. He announced it publicly in early November 2024 and spent the last few years advocating for prevention and screening tests for adults 45 and older.
The actor’s career was kickstarted in Wilmington in the late 1990s, during the filming of the WB hit. “Dawson’s Creek” ran for six seasons and 128 episodes, all filmed in and around downtown Wilmington, the coastal communities, varied neighborhoods, businesses and more. Van Der Beek was often seen around town with cast members having dinner or even attending spring baseball practice at Laney High School.
He posted on social media in 2018, honoring the show’s 20th anniversary: “The little pilot we shot in that small town for that fledgling network aired, changed our lives and launched our careers.”
The actor went on to star in films including “Varsity Blues,” “Scary Movie” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” as well as TV shows including “Pose” and “How I Met Your Mother.”
He also popped up in another Wilmington-filmed production, “One Tree Hill,” the followup teen drama that also took off on The CW after “Dawson’s Creek.” “OTC” starred Chad Michael Murray, who also appeared on “Dawson’s Creek” during its run. Michael Murray posted a remembrance Wednesday, “sending love and light” to the Van Der Beek family and adding: “His words, art and humanity inspired all of us — he inspired us to be better in all ways.”
Last September, cast members of “Dawson’s Creek” came together in New York to do a reading of the pilot episode of the series, as a reunion charity event for F Cancer Foundation and in honor of Van Der Beek. Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Busy Phillips and Mary Margaret Humes appeared, among others — also singing in unison the show’s theme song, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait,” at the end.
Van Der Beek was supposed to appear but couldn’t make it and instead taped a video message showing his gratitude. Lin-Manuel Miranda stood in for the role of Dawson.
Port City Daily reached out to local actress Repeta, who didn’t respond to a comment regarding the actor’s passing by press.
Other “Dawson’s Creek” co-stars have taken to social media in regard to the news. Busy Phillips, who was Audrey Liddell on “DC” but also starred in “Don’t Trust the B — in Apartment 23” with Van Der Beek, wrote she was “heartbroken” by his passing: “I am just so so sad. He was my friend and I loved him and I’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.”
Humes, who was Dawson Leery’s mother in the show, called Van Der Beek a “gracious warrior,” adding she was speechless over his passing. “You fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity,” Humes said.
Smith, who performed as Jack McPhee, wrote: “I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I’ll miss him deeply. Rest easy.”
In the last year, Van Der Beek’s final in-person appearances were with Smith, last May at GalaxyCon in Oklahoma City. Van Der Beek also gave his last on-camera interview on NBC’s “Today” show in December, telling journalist Craig Melvin he was feeling better than a few months prior and finding a new meaning to life while battling serious health issues.
Fans will be able to see Van Der Beek in one final appearance in “Elle,” a prequel series to the famed “Legally Blonde” films. It will stream on Amazon Prime on July 1, 2026.
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