From 1998 to 2003, James Van Der Beek was one of the most charismatic idols of television thanks to the series Dawson's Creek. No other role could overshadow this cathodic drama whose protagonists mourn the loss of the actor, who passed away at 48 years old.
Colorectal cancer in stage 3 diagnosed in 2023, but which the actor did not disclose to his fans until the following year, has been the cause of his death.
His second wife, actress and producer Kimberly Brook (44), announced the news through her social media: "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He spent his last 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 privacy and respect as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
The couple met in 2009 on a trip to Israel, and that fateful encounter led to a beautiful love story. When the actor saw her, he felt she was his soulmate with whom to start a family. James told his friend that he had a "revelation" when Kimberly suddenly interrupted them to ask something.
James felt something very special, but Kimberly was not ready to start a relationship. However, six months later, they were already living together and expecting their first of six children, Olivia (15).
Despite experiencing some miscarriages, the Van Der Beek family quickly became a large family with Joshua (13), Annabel (12), Emilia (9), Gwendolyn (7), and Jeremiah (4). In many of his Instagram pictures, the actor can be seen adoring his family.
"It can be exhausting, but we love the chaos", Van Der Beek said about being a father. What he loved the most was seeing how his children formed a little tribe and took care of each other.
Initially, the couple lived in a small mansion in Beverly Hills, but in 2020, they decided to move to be closer to nature, so they relocated to the outskirts of Austin (Texas), to a 14.5-hectare ranch. The property consists of a main house of almost 500 square meters, several cabins, a pool, and a garden overlooking the Pedernales River.
In this vast land, Van Der Beek's children ran freely, picked fruits and vegetables, and played outdoors. And, as the couple had previously mentioned, the ranch was much cheaper than living in Beverly Hills.
Their move at the beginning of the pandemic coincided with the death of James's mother, Kimberly's health issue, a business gone wrong, and a major professional crisis due to the lack of offers due to COVID. But the effort was worth it because the actor was very proud of everything he had created on a personal level.
One of the most emotional moments took place in September 2025 when his Dawson's Creek colleagues, Michelle Williams (45), Joshua Jackson (47), Katie Holmes (47), and other actors who appeared throughout the six seasons, gathered in New York to raise funds for the Fuck Cancer organization, which researches colorectal cancer.
The actor could not attend due to two stomach viruses, but he participated through a video conference. The most gratifying part of the evening was seeing his wife and six children surrounded by his colleagues. "All that love that would have otherwise been directed towards me was directed towards my family. It was one of the most beautiful moments I have witnessed. I am very grateful to the fans for doing that."
In November of that same year, Van Der Beek auctioned off items from the series that catapulted him to stardom to cover the high costs of treatment.
His last upcoming project is the series Elle. James Van Der Beek was previously married to actress Heather McComb (48) from 2003 to 2010.