James Van Der Beek was best known for playing Dawson Leery on the popular teen soap “Dawson’s Creek” in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. He also had memorable roles as Augustus’ father in “The Fault In Our Stars” and as a fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.”
Sadly, Van Der Beek died on February 11, 2026, at 48 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.
For many fans, he was a first crush and a comfort watch. Later, he became a genuinely admirable public figure who wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
Here are five moments that still hit right in the heart.
1. James Van Der Beek’s ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Cry Face Became a Meme, But It Was Sincere
Any fan of “Dawson’s Creek” can immediately summon the image of Dawson coming to grips with Joey (Katie Holmes) choosing to leave with Pacey (Joshua Jackson) at the end of season 3. Van Der Beek stood on a dock with tears streaming down his face and it immediately became one of the most meme’d moments in teen drama history.
However, it was genuinely emotional storytelling. Viewers could practically feel Dawson’s heartbreak, and in return, Van Der Beek delivered a performance that essentially defined The WB era. It melted hearts with its sincerity because Dawson wasn’t the sarcastic antihero or the cool guy. The ability to portray that kind of emotion became the foundation of his early career.
2. James Van Der Beek Made ‘Varsity Blues’ More Than a Football Movie
“Varsity Blues” was a quintessential sports movie in the late ‘90s, but Van Der Beek’s performance made more than just a football movie. His role as Jonathan “Mox” Moxon gave the movie its backbone.
Mox made it clear in the film that he didn’t care about being the popular football star. When he finally pushed back about his win-at-all-costs coach, the scene landed because Van Der Beek made it feel real. That’s why the movie still holds up over two decades later.
3. James Van Der Beek’s Virtual Appearance at the 2025 ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion
During his cancer journey, Van Der Beek still made time for the fans that loved him from the start. In September 2025, he couldn’t physically attend a “Dawson’s Creek” charity event, but he appeared virtually.
“I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,” he said in a pre-recorded message for fans. “I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.”
He continued, “And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world. Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here.”
4. James Van Der Beek Shared His Wife’s Miscarriage on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
GettyDuring his “Dancing With the Stars” run in 2019, Van Der Beek candidly opened up about his wife Kimberly’s miscarriage in one of the show’s most heartbreaking moments.
“My wife Kimberly and I went through every expecting parent’s worst nightmare. We lost the baby,” he said, getting emotional in a video package for the episode. “The little soul that we had expected to welcome into our family took a shortcut to whatever lies beyond.”
Van Der Beek continued, “You never know why these things happen, that’s what I’ve been telling my kids. All you know is that it brings you closer together, it breaks you open, it opens your heart, it deepens your appreciation. It makes you more human.”
Despite the tragic loss, Van Der Beek chose to compete in the episode and he said he did it for Kimberly.
5. He Turned His Self Parody Into Something Sweet on ‘Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23’
A lot of Hollywood stars spend their post-teen idol years trying to outrun their past, but Van Der Beek did the opposite. On “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” he played a heightened version of himself and he mined his Dawson era fame for jokes without ever seeming bitter.
What made it heart melting was that he was clearly in on the joke. While the persona was over the top, it also included a wink to viewers, and that made it all the more charming.
