James Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, has died at 48.

TMZ reported the news on February 11, 2026, citing confirmation from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. A cause of death has not yet been released. The actor had publicly revealed in late 2024 that he was battling stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Van Der Beek tried to do some good to help others who were facing similar battles just weeks after revealing his diagnosis ... starring in a two-hour special of "The Real Full Monty" in December 2024 to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research.

He was supposed to join his fellow "Dawson's Creek" castmates in September, but he was forced to drop out of the reunion for health reasons. He ended up making a surprise virtual appearance.

He later gained recognition for his roles in "Scary Movie," "Varsity Blues," and "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23." He also regularly grabbed recurring roles on many of the most popular shows of the last two decades ... like "How I Met Your Mother," "One Tree Hill," and "Pose."