James Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48.

In 2024, Van Der Beek publicly shared that he was undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer. Months later, he made a surprise virtual appearance at a Dawson’s Creek reunion charity event in New York City. Projected onstage during a live reading of the show’s pilot episode, the event raised funds for F Cancer and for Van Der Beek himself as he continued his health battle.

Van Der Beek starred in Dawson’s Creek from 1998 to 2003, a series that helped define The WB’s identity as a destination for teen audiences. Known for its deeply reflective and often hyper-articulate dialogue, the show became a cultural touchstone of late-’90s and early-2000s television.

While the role of Dawson Leery made him a household name, Van Der Beek was candid about the challenges of stepping out from the shadow of such an iconic character. In later years, he leaned into self-parody, appearing in Funny Or Die sketches and memorably spoofing his image in Kesha’s “Blow” music video, showing a willingness to evolve and laugh at himself.

The impact of Dawson’s Creek continues to ripple through television today. Modern series like Euphoria and Sex Education reflect the groundwork laid by the coming-of-age drama that once centered around a group of teens navigating love, ambition, and identity in the fictional town of Capeside.

James Van Der Beek’s career will remain forever linked to a show that shaped a generation and redefined teen storytelling on network television.