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

TMZ first reported the news on February 11, 2026, citing confirmation from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. A cause of death has not yet been released. The actor had publicly revealed in late 2024 that he was battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Beyond Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek starred in Varsity Blues, Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and appeared in numerous television and film projects over a three-decade career. He is survived by his wife and children.