James Van Der Beek did not die in an accident or sudden event; he passed away after a battle with colorectal (bowel) cancer at the age of 48.

What happened?

  • James Van Der Beek, best known as Dawson Leery from “Dawson’s Creek,” died at 48 in February 2026.
  • His family announced that he “passed peacefully” and asked for privacy as they grieve.
  • He had previously revealed he was battling stage 3 colorectal/bowel cancer, which he’d spoken about publicly since 2024.

Cause of death

  • Multiple news outlets describe his death as coming after a battle with stage 3 colorectal (bowel) cancer.
  • Reports emphasize that he died peacefully, surrounded by family, rather than in any kind of sudden or traumatic incident.

Timeline and latest news

  • He publicly disclosed his cancer diagnosis (stage 3 colorectal cancer) in late 2024, explaining he had been undergoing treatment.
  • Coverage in early 2026 notes that his condition had worsened over time, leading to his death in February 2026.
  • Some outlets mention that he had to cancel reunion or public appearances in 2025 due to his illness.

Forum and trending discussion angle

Online forums and social platforms are largely focusing on:

  • Nostalgia for “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues” and how iconic his teen-heartthrob era was.
  • Respect for how openly he talked about cancer, fatherhood, and mortality in interviews and social media posts.
  • Grief and shock that someone associated with 90s/2000s teen TV died relatively young at 48.

Many commenters are also using his story to talk about cancer screenings and awareness for colorectal cancer in people under 50.

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Detail Information
Full name James David Van Der Beek
Age at death 48 years old
Date of death February 2026 (announced February 11, 2026)
Cause Complications from stage 3 colorectal/bowel cancer
Family statement He “passed peacefully” and met his final days with “courage, faith, and grace”
Known for “Dawson’s Creek,” “Varsity Blues,” “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” “CSI: Cyber,” “How I Met Your Mother”

TL;DR

James Van Der Beek died in February 2026 at age 48 after a two‑year fight with stage 3 colorectal/bowel cancer; his family said he passed peacefully and asked for privacy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.