James Van Der Beek, who starred as the titular character in “Dawson’s Creek,” has died. He was 48 years old.
The actor’s death follows his November 2024 announcement that he was battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Though his career spanned the small screen, big screen, and the stage, Van Der Beek is best known for playing Dawson Leery for all six seasons of “Dawson’s Creek.” As the idealistic aspiring filmmaker coming of age in Capeside, Van Der Beek’s Dawson went through some harsh growing pains, from learning of his mother’s affair to grieving his father’s death to getting and repeatedly losing the girl next door. Over time, the show became more like “Joey’s Creek” than Dawson’s, but Van Der Beek remained eternally connected to his television alter ego.
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Dawson Grieves His Dad's Death | Dawson's Creek
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Van Der Beek ultimately embraced the association, memorably poking fun at himself and his TV character with “Funny or Die” sketches, a Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back cameo, and a self-referential role on “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.” Van Der Beek was also the rare teen drama lead to recur on another teen drama, thanks to his role as a drug-addled, sex-obsessed director on “One Tree Hill” — a personality that was the complete opposite of Dawson. He further played against type in “What Would Diplo Do?”, a comedy series he created and executive-produced.
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OTH - Lucas/Brooke/Haley/Skills/Mia/Dixon Bar Scene 6.18
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