James Van Der Beek | |
|---|---|
 Van Der Beek in 2013 | |
| Born | James David Van Der Beek (1977-03-08)March 8, 1977 Cheshire, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 2026(2026-02-11) (aged 48) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Cheshire Academy |
| Alma mater | Drew University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–2026 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 6 |
James David Van Der Beek (/ˈvændərˌbiːk/; March 8, 1977 – February 11, 2026) was an American actor. Known for his portrayal ofDawson Leery onThe WB'sDawson's Creek (1998–2003), he also played a fictionalized version of himself on the cultABC sitcomDon't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), starred as FBI agent Elijah Mundo onCSI: Cyber (2015–2016), and appeared as Matt Bromley during the first season of theFX dramaPose (2018).
Van Der Beek's film credits includedVarsity Blues (1999),Texas Rangers (2001),The Rules of Attraction (2002),Formosa Betrayed (2009),Labor Day (2013), andBad Hair (2020).
James David Van Der Beek was born on March 8, 1977, inCheshire, Connecticut, the eldest of three children of Melinda (née Weber; 1950–2020),[1][2] a dancer and gymnastics teacher, and James William Van Der Beek, acellular phone company executive.[1] He was ofDutch,German,English,Scots-Irish, andFrench descent; his surname translates to "from the creek" inDutch.[3][4]
Van Der Beek played the role of Reuben in his middle school production ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.[5] At 15, he asked his mother to take him intoNew York City to find an agent and pursue professional acting. He made his professional debutoff-Broadway at age 16 in 1993 in the New York premiere ofEdward Albee's playFinding the Sun with theSignature Theatre Company, playing the role of "Fergus". Both he and the production, which was also directed by Albee, received positive reviews.[6][7] A decade later, in 2003, he returned off-Broadway in the playRain Dance.[8]
At 17, while still a student atCheshire Academy, he performed in the musicalShenandoah at theGoodspeed Opera House, made his feature film debut as a sadistic bully inAngus (1995),[9] and filmed a small role in the independent movieI Love You, I Love You Not (1996).[10] He attendedDrew University inMadison, New Jersey on an academic scholarship from 1995 to 1997, where he studied English and sociology and sang in an all‑male a cappella group, but he left the university whenDawson's Creek began production.[11][12] In 2024, Van Der Beek returned to be a commencement speaker at Drew where he was awarded anhonoraryBachelor of Arts degree.[12] He performed at theVineyard Theater indowntown Manhattan, New York inNicky Silver's playMy Marriage to Ernest Borgnine, and he played a supporting role in the independent filmCash Crop, which was shot in spring of 1997 and originally titledHarvest before its 2001 release.[13]
In early 1997, Van Der Beek auditioned for threetelevision pilots, including one forthe WB seriesDawson's Creek. He won the title role of Dawson Leery, and the show's 1998 debut became a breakout success that helped establish the network and its cast. The series ran for six seasons and was syndicated worldwide. In 1999, he starred in the teen football dramaVarsity Blues, which held the number-one spot at the U.S. box office for its first two weeks,[14] earning him anMTV Movie Award.[15]
Around this time, he was named one ofPeople magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World", and he appeared in several films, includingTexas Rangers,Scary Movie, andJay & Silent Bob Strike Back, in which he played himself playingJay[16] oppositeJason Biggs asSilent Bob.[17] In 2002, he portrayedSean Bateman (younger brother ofAmerican Psycho protagonistPatrick Bateman) inRoger Avary's film adaptation ofBret Easton Ellis'sThe Rules of Attraction. The film was a box‑office disappointment but later developed a cult following on DVD.[18]
In 2006, Van Der Beek appeared in theDirect-to-DVD thrillerThe Plague, produced byClive Barker, which was panned by critics. AfterDawson's Creek ended in 2003, he returned to off-Broadway inLanford Wilson'sRain Dance. He completed an unproduced screenplay titledWinning and made several television appearances, including a role onUgly Betty. In 2007, he guest-starred in a two-part episode ofCriminal Minds, playingserial killer Tobias Hankel, who kidnaps and drugsSpencer Reid. In 2008, he appeared onHow I Met Your Mother as Simon Tremblay, one ofRobin Scherbatsky's former boyfriends, returning for two more episodes in 2013.[19]
In 2008, he began a recurring role onOne Tree Hill as a filmmaker who served as a satirical opposite of Dawson Leery. He appeared in an episode of the fifth season ofMedium. In 2009, he portrayed real‑life kidnapper Anthony Steven "Tony Zappa" Wright in theLifetime filmTaken In Broad Daylight.[20] Also in 2009, he won Best Actor at the 8th Annual San Diego Film Festival for his performance as FBI agent Jake Kelly in the political thrillerFormosa Betrayed, which also won Best Picture. The film received a U.S. theatrical release beginning February 26, 2010.[21] On January 5, 2010,TVGuide.com reported that Van Der Beek had been cast in a major recurring role on theNBC medical dramaMercy, playing Dr. Joe Briggs, the new womanizing ICU chief with a dark secret.[22] He also appeared in the thrillerStolen, starringRhona Mitra,Josh Lucas, andJon Hamm.[23] In 2011, Van Der Beek playedKesha's nemesis in her music video for "Blow".[24] He then portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on theABC sitcomDon't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. The show debuted to critical praise, with Van Der Beek earning strong notices for his comic timing and self‑parody.[25]
On March 4, 2015, Van Der Beek began his role as Senior Field Agent Elijah Mundo onCSI: Cyber. In 2017, he appeared in the British comedy seriesCarters Get Rich.[26] He made a cameo in the filmDownsizing (2017), starringMatt Damon, and voiced Boris Hauntley in theDisney Junior seriesVampirina.[27][28][29] Van Der Beek co‑created, wrote, produced, and starred inWhat Would Diplo Do?, portraying producer and DJDiplo. It marked his first project as ashowrunner. The show debuted onViceland to positive reviews both for the writing and his performance,[30] was described, "The Veep of DJ Culture" by theL.A. Times[31] and earned a 90% rating onRotten Tomatoes.[32] In 2019, Van Der Beek was cast as Matt Bromley on theFX dramaPose,[33] a role he played for one season.[34]
He joined the cast ofthe 28th season ofDancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancerEmma Slater. A strong performer,[35] he consistently placed near the top of the leaderboard and was widely considered a frontrunner until his elimination in the semifinals, finishing in fifth place. That night, he revealed that his wife, Kimberly, had suffered a miscarriage forty‑eight hours earlier. His elimination, following the judges' lowest score of the night, was controversial among fans.[36][37][38]
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In 2025, Van Der Beek competed onseason thirteen ofThe Masked Singer as "Griffin", whose costume featured wings that opened during performances. Clues referenced his past illness. He was eliminated in the "Group B Finals:Grand Ole Opry Night," and hostNick Cannon surprised him by bringing his wife, Kimberly, and their children onstage.[39] In 2026, he will posthumously appear in theLegally Blonde prequel television seriesElle.[40]
Van Der Beek was married to actressHeather McComb from 2003 until their separation in April 2009.[41] He filed for divorce later that year,[42] and the divorce was finalized in 2010.[43]
Van Der Beek married business consultant Kimberly Brook on August 1, 2010, in a small ceremony at the Kabbalah Center nearDizengoff Square inTel Aviv, Israel.[44][45] The couple had six children.[46] He spoke several times about a miscarriage Brook suffered in November 2019,[47] just a month after announcing she was pregnant.[48] On November 22, 2021, following the birth of their sixth child, he disclosed that she had actually suffered two miscarriages at 17 weeks or later.[49] In September 2020, Van Der Beek announced that they were leavingLos Angeles and moving toTexas.[50]
On August 31, 2023, Van Der Beek was diagnosed withcolorectal cancer; he did not make his diagnosis public until November 2024. He stated that he had "been privately dealing with this diagnosis and has been taking steps to resolve it" with the support of his family.[51] In November 2025, he announced that he would be auctioning items fromDawson's Creek andVarsity Blues to help cover costs associated with his cancer treatment.[52]
Van Der Beek died on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48.[1][46]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Clarissa Explains It All | Paulie | Episode: "Alter Ego"[53] |
| 1995 | As the World Turns | Stephen Anderson | 3 episodes[53] |
| 1996 | Aliens in the Family | Ethan | Episode: "You Don't Have a Pet to Be Popular"[54] |
| 1998–2003 | Dawson's Creek | Dawson Leery | Main cast; 122 episodes[55] |
| 1999 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "James Van Der Beek/Everlast"[56] |
| 2006 | Robot Chicken | Various voices[57] | 2 episodes[46] |
| 2007 | Criminal Minds | Tobias Hankel / Raphael | |
| Ugly Betty | Luke Carnes | Episode: "Grin and Bear It"[46] | |
| Eye of the Beast | Dan Leland | Television film | |
| 2008–2009 | One Tree Hill | Adam Reese | 4 episodes[46] |
| 2008–2013 | How I Met Your Mother | Simon | 3 episodes[46] |
| 2009 | Medium | Dylan Hoyt | Episode: "All in the Family"[46] |
| The Storm | Dr. Jonathan Kirk | Miniseries; 2 episodes[58] | |
| The Forgotten | Judd Shaw | Episode: "Lucky John"[59] | |
| Taken in Broad Daylight | Anthony Steven "Tony Zappa" Wright[20] | Television film | |
| Mrs. Miracle | Seth Webster | ||
| 2010 | Mercy | Dr. Joe Briggs | 10 episodes[1] |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Rex Tamlyn | Episode: "To the Boy in the Blue Knit Cap"[46] |
| Franklin & Bash | Nathan | Episode: "Bachelor Party" | |
| Salem Falls | Jack St. Bride | Television film[58] | |
| 2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sean Albert | Episode: "Father Dearest"[60] |
| 2012–2013 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | James Van Der Beek | Main cast; 26 episodes[55] |
| 2013 | The Eric Andre Show | James Van Der Beek / Team Go! Member #2 | Episode 2 : "James Van Der Beek / Steve-O", "Lauren Conrad / Reese Witherspoon" |
| 2014 | Friends with Better Lives | Will Stokes | Main cast; 13 episodes[61] |
| 2015–2016 | CSI: Cyber | Elijah Mundo | Main cast[46] |
| 2017 | Carters Get Rich | Trent Zebrisky | |
| What Would Diplo Do? | Diplo | Also co-creator and writer[61] | |
| Room 104 | Scott | Episode: "Pizza Boy"[58] | |
| Modern Family | Bo Johnson | Episode: "No Small Feet"[60] | |
| Drop the Mic | Himself | Episode: "James Van Der Beek vs.Randall Park /Gina Rodriguez vs.Rob Gronkowski" | |
| 2017–2021 | Vampirina | Boris Hauntley (voice) | Main cast[61] |
| 2018 | Pose | Matt Bromley | Main cast (season 1)[46] |
| 2019 | Dancing with the Stars | Himself | Contestant (season 28)[62] |
| 2020 | 25 Words or Less | 6 episodes | |
| Home Movie: The Princess Bride | Prince Humperdinck | Episode: "Chapter Nine: Have Fun Storming the Castle!"[63] | |
| 2024 | We Are Family | Himself | Season finale; with oldest daughter Olivia[64] |
| The Real Full Monty | Television special[65] | ||
| Walker | New Neighbor | Episode: "See You Sometime"[66] | |
| 2025 | The Masked Singer | Himself / Griffin | Contestant (season 13)[61] |
| Overcompensating | Charlie | 2 episodes[67] | |
| 2026 | Elle | Dean Wilson | Post-production; posthumous release[61] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Angus | Rick Sandford | [46] |
| 1996 | I Love You, I Love You Not | Tony | [46] |
| 1998 | Harvest | James Peterson | [61] |
| 1999 | Varsity Blues | Jonathon "Mox" Moxon | [55] |
| 2000 | Scary Movie | Dawson Leery | Uncredited[55] |
| 2001 | Texas Rangers | Ranger Lincoln Rogers Dunnison | [61] |
| Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Himself | [46] | |
| 2002 | The Rules of Attraction | Sean Bateman | [58] |
| 2003 | Castle in the Sky | Pazu | Voice; English dub produced in 1998 byDisney |
| 2005 | Standing Still | Simon | [61] |
| 2006 | The Plague | Tom Russell | Direct-to-video[68] |
| 2007 | Final Draft | Paul Twist | [68] |
| 2009 | Formosa Betrayed | Jake Kelly | [61] |
| Stolen | "Diploma" / Roggiani | [58] | |
| 2010 | The Big Bang | Adam Nova | [61] |
| 2012 | Backwards | Geoff | [61] |
| 2013 | The Magic Bracelet | Joe | Short film |
| Labor Day | Officer Treadwell | [61] | |
| 2015 | Power/Rangers | Rocky DeSantos / Red Ranger | Short film; also screenwriter[69] |
| 2017 | Downsizing | Anesthesiologist | [61] |
| 2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Himself | [1] |
| 2020 | Bad Hair | Grant Madison | [61] |
| 2024 | Sidelined: The QB and Me | Leroy Lahey | [1] |
| 2025 | Sidelined 2: Intercepted | ||
| 2026 | The Gates | Jacob | Post-production; posthumous release[70] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Varsity Blues | Best Breakthrough Male Performance | Won |
| 2001 | Scary Movie | Best Cameo in a Movie | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dawson's Creek | Choice TV Actor | Nominated |
| Varsity Blues | Choice Movie Breakout Star | Won | |
| 2012 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Varsity Blues | Favorite Actor – Newcomer (Internet Only) | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Formosa Betrayed | Best Actor | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | JamesVanDerMemes.com[74] | OMG Internet Award | Won |
