Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek dies at 48 after colon and rectal cancer diagnosis

Van Der Beek's family announced the news with a post on his :

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith and dignity," they wrote, asking for peace to "mourn his loving husband, father, son, brother and friend in private."

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2023.

"Dawson's Creek" aired from 1998 to 2003 and was about a group of young people in the small American town of Capeside. The series made stars of Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson in addition to Van Der Beek.