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.”
Tributes were paid to Van Der Beek immediately after the news.
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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.”
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.
Van Der Beek said: “Thank you to every single person here.”
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Article source: https://news.sky.com/story/dawson-creeks-james-van-der-beek-dies-aged-48-13506425