James David Van Der Beek was an American actor famed for portraying aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery in the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek, propelling him to stardom in the late 1990s. From his March 8, 1977, birth in Cheshire, Connecticut, and a pivot from football after a high school injury, he built a 30-year career spanning stage, film, TV, and self-parody roles in indie projects. His signature “crying face” from Varsity Blues became a cultural meme, enduring until his passing in early 2026.
Before fame
In high school, James sang with an all-boys a cappella group. At just 15, he caught the acting bug and convinced his mom to drive him to Las Vegas to land a professional agent.
Trivia
He hilariously played Kesha’s nemesis in her 2011 music video for the upbeat track “Blow.”
Family life
James first tied the knot with actress Heather McComb in 2003, but they parted ways in 2009. He found lasting love with Kimberly Brook, marrying her in 2012. Together, they welcomed six kids: Joshua, Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Remi.
Illness and Death
In a candid Instagram post in November 2023, James revealed he’d been privately battling colorectal cancer for six months, sharing how it blindsided his family during a routine checkup. He fought the disease with optimism and family support but passed away on February 11, 2026, at age 48, as confirmed by his team and multiple outlets like People and The New York Times.