Actor James Van Der Beek: He died at the age of 48.Image: keystone
After the death of James Van Der Beek, numerous companions spoke out. They are reminiscent of their colleagues, some of whom accompanied them for years.
02/12/2026, 08:5702/12/2026, 08:57
Dinah Rachko / t-online
Hollywood says goodbye to James David Van Der Beek. The US actor, who became internationally known in the 1990s with the teen series “Dawson’s Creek”, has died at the age of 48. His wife Kimberly Brook confirmed the death on Instagram. There she wrote: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith and dignity.” Shortly after his death became known, numerous colleagues expressed their dismay.
Melissa Joan Hart played the lead role in the series “Clarissa” in the early 1990s, and Van Der Beek played her flirt Paulie at the time. Now the actress says goodbye to her former co-star on Instagram: “I am heartbroken that James has passed away! He was a really nice guy, a great father, a wonderful actor… Left us far too early.” She also describes it as her “first film kiss” and shared photos that show them both on set at a young age. You can see all the images if you click to the right in the post below.
“A big loss”
Sarah Michelle Gellar also spoke out on Instagram: “While James’ legacy will live on forever, this is a great loss not only for your family, but for the entire world. Fuck Cancer,” she wrote under the death notice on his account. In her own Instagram story, she added: “I grew up with James. He was one of the good ones.”
Krysten Ritter, with whom Van Der Beek played in the sitcom “Apartment 23,” also remembers her colleague. She writes on Instagram: “A beautiful person, inside and out. Smart, funny, sensitive, friendly, talented and just pure magic.” She also emphasized: “I am so grateful for our friendship.”
Krysten Ritter mourns the death of James Van Der Beek.Image: IMAGO / FAMOUS
Stacy Keibler remembers the actor with a photo that apparently shows Van Der Beck in a wheelchair shortly before his death: “Spending these last days with you was a true gift from God. I’ve never been so present in my life.” She continues: “It’s pretty incredible how someone can fight so hard for so long, travel so much around the world and somehow still look so good. That smile has never left you. […] I will carry you with me. Always.”
Diagnosis in 2024
With the role of Dawson Leery in “Dawson’s Creek,” Van Der Beek achieved his breakthrough as an actor in the 1990s. The actor, who was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, had previously taken on mainly smaller roles. Appearances later followed in films such as “Scary Movie” and “The Rules of the Game” as well as in the series “CSI: Cyber”, “How I Met Your Mother” and “Apartment 23”. In 2025 he was seen in the 13th season of the US version of “The Masked Singer” and reached tenth place there as “Griffin”. It was his last television appearance.
At the end of 2024, Van Der Beek made it public that he had colon cancer. Despite the difficult diagnosis, he was optimistic at the time. In September 2025 he had to cancel his planned participation in a “Dawson’s Creek” reunion in New York for health reasons. Instead, his wife represented him. He lived on a ranch in Texas with her and their six children.