The actor thrilled fans for years as Dawson Leary in “Dawson’s Creek”. Away from the camera, however, he recently battled cancer. Now James Van Der Beek has died. His illness is also said to have been a financial burden for his family.
02/12/2026, 09:0702/12/2026, 09:07
Michelle Nuhn / watson.de
The death of James Van Der Beek doesn’t just shock fans of “Dawson’s Creek”. The actor became world famous through the series in the late 1990s and remained a familiar TV face for decades. However, privately he has been battling colon cancer since August 2023. He also repeatedly spoke publicly about his difficult diagnosis.
James Van der Beek waged a public battle with cancer for years.Image: keystone
The series star succumbed to the disease at the age of just 48. He leaves behind his wife and six children. After James Van Der Beek’s death, his family is said to be facing an uncertain future, which is why a public call for support is now being made.
James Van Der Beek: Family has money problems after his death
The actor died on Wednesday as a result of his years-long battle with cancer. The news of his death was shared by his family via his official Instagram account. And despite an estimated net worth of around $3 million Friends of the series star have launched a GoFundMe campaign.
Van Der Beek and his children
Colorectal cancer is considered one of the most expensive cancers to treat in the United States.
How “The Hollywood Reporter» reports that James Van Der Beek’s widow Kimberly and their six children would face an “uncertain future” after his death. It goes on to say:
“The cost of James’ medical care and the lengthy battle with cancer have left the family destitute.”
It is particularly important to them “to be able to maintain some stability during this difficult time”. The family fears not only for their home, but also for the children’s future education. The donations are therefore intended to cover basic living costs, pay bills and ensure the children’s education.
Kimberly Van Der Beek herself also shared the link on her profile and wrote: “My friends created this link to support my children and me during this time. With gratitude and with a broken heart.”
James Van Der Beek’s fundraising campaign sets new goal
And there is obviously great compassion and sympathy for the Van Der Beeks’ tragic fate. As of early Wednesday afternoon, $346,943 of the targeted $550,000 had already been raised. Just a few hours later it was already over $1 million.
In view of this, a new target of 1.3 million US dollars has now been set.
Last December, James Van Der Beek auctioned off personal memorabilia from “Dawson’s Creek” to finance his cancer treatment. These included, among other things, the necklace he gave to Joey Potter (played by Katie Holmes) at the prom. The proceeds were intended to reduce the financial burden of cancer.
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