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  "path": "/arts-entertainment/jame-van-der-beek-dies-2675260360",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-11T20:05:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.advocate.com",
  "tags": [
    "James van der beek",
    "Celebrities",
    "See on Instagram"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nJames Van Der Beek has died following a diagnosis of colorectal cancer. He was 48.\n\nThe actor was best known for his role as a teen heartthrob in _Varsity Blues_ and _Dawson’s Creek_ , which had a history-making gay kiss between his costar Kerr Smith and Adam Kaufman at a time when two men had never kissed on U.S. network television before.\n\nVan Der Beek’s death was announced on his official Instagram page Wednesday alongside a photo of the actor, captioned, ”Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning.\n\nThe statement continued, \"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n> See on Instagram\n\nVan Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023 and went public with his health struggles in November 2024.\n\nAfter playing Dawson Leery in _Dawson’s Creek_ , Van Der Beek went on to star in _Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23_ , appeared in the first season of _Pose,_ and last year was in two episodes of _Overcompensating._\n\nFans will have one more opportunity to see the actor on their screen in his final role in the highly anticipated _Legally Blonde_ prequel TV series called _Elle_.'\n\nHe is survived by his wife, Kimberly, whom he married in 2010, and their six children.",
  "title": "Actor James Van Der Beek has died at age 48"
}