James Van Der Beek’s death on February 11, 2026, from stage III colorectal cancer closes the book on a career that shaped an era of television. Forever etched in pop culture as Dawson Leery from *Dawson’s Creek*, he later broke free of the teen-heartthrob box, embracing satire and vulnerability in projects like *Varsity Blues* and *Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23*.
Diagnosed in 2024, he chose honesty over secrecy, speaking openly about scans, surgeries, and fear, while still working and centering his life around his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. Those closest to him say he met the end the way he met the illness: clear-eyed, protective of his family, and unwilling to let despair define him. His legacy lives in the stories he told, the risks he took, and the millions who felt less alone watching him grow up on screen.