James Van Der Beek, who grew up on the big screen on the teen drama “Dawson’s Creek” and grew into an actor who often starred in comedies and dramas and wasn’t afraid to poke fun at his celebrity, has died at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer.
After starting her Hollywood career with a bit part on the children’s sitcom “Clarissa Explains Everything,” Van Der Beek quickly became a teen idol with a starring role on the soap “Dawson’s Creek.” He remained a fixture on television throughout his career, including “Mercy,” “Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23,” “Friends with Better Lives,” “CSI: Cyber,” “Pose” and “Overcompensation.”
He also appeared in many films in different genres, including Varsity Blues, The Rules of Attraction, Downsizing, and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
In an interview with Parade last year, Van Der Beek talked about moving to Texas during the pandemic and reevaluating his life, health and career.
“I really let go of my attachment to what it meant to be an actor and what my version of success was and how I felt and what it should be. And I really felt like, ‘Oh, I can walk away from this,'” he said. “Then when I got cancer and looked around the world and wondered where my place was in it and where I wanted to stay, I realized that I love telling stories. I’m really grateful for this opportunity to write and perform.”
