Actor James Van Der Beek, well-known for Dawson's Creek, dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the hit 1990s teen drama ‘Dawson’s Creek’, has died at the age of 48 after a prolonged battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, his family confirmed on social media early today.

In a heartfelt statement posted on his official Instagram account, Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared that he “passed peacefully this morning” and spent his final days with “courage, faith, and grace”. She requested privacy for the family as they mourn the loss of a “devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend”.