James Van Der Beek was reportedly writing a memoir before his tragic death.
The “Dawson’s Creek” alum is secretly writing a book about his life while battling colorectal cancer, sources told Deadline on Wednesday.
The actor reportedly worked on the book while juggling his last acting projects, including the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle, Prime Video’s Overcompensation, and appearances on Fox’s The Masked Singer.
At this time, it is unclear how far he has progressed in his writing or whether there are any plans to publish his memoirs posthumously.
Representatives for Van Der Beek did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Van der Beek died on Wednesday at the age of 48 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer. His family announced his death in a statement on Instagram, promising to share more of the actor’s final wishes in the near future.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning,” his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek shared in a joint statement on Instagram Wednesday.
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. He has much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. That day will come.”
The Varsity Blues star had been battling stage 3 cancer since August 2023.
He told People magazine in November 2024 that he was forced to reveal his diagnosis more than a year later when he learned that “the tabloids were going to run the news.”
“I have personally been dealing with this issue for some time now and have been working more intensively than ever to seek treatment and improve my overall health,” Van der Beek added.
“I’m in good shape and feeling strong. This is quite an introduction and I’ll tell you more when I’m ready.”
He later admitted that cancer treatment was putting a financial strain on his family, and began selling autographed “Varsity Blues” merchandise to help fund treatment.
Van der Beek put his character Jonathan “Mox” Moxon’s footwear and hat up for auction.
He also sold “Dawson’s Creek” memorabilia, including clothing and bedroom decor for his character Dawson Leery.
