Legendary actor James Van Der Beek has died, aged 48.

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his role in the popular '90s drama Dawson's Creek, has died. He was 48.

His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced the news on Instagram.

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," she wrote.

"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."

Watch: James Van Der Beek makes surprise appearance at Dawson's Creek reunion. Post continues below.

The Instagram statement has already collected tens of thousands of comments from fans sharing their condolences for the actor's family.

Tributes have also begun to flow from the actor's friends and colleagues.

"I'm so sad for your beautiful family. While James' legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. F**k cancer," wrote Sarah Michelle Gellar, who starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

She shared an old photo of the pair together as she expressed her grief.

Sarah Michelle Gellar has shared a tribute to James Van Der Beek on Instagram. Image: Instagram @sarahmgellar

Chad Michael Murray added: "Sending love and light to your beautiful family. James was a giant. We're so so so sorry for what you're going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us — he inspired us to be better in all ways. God bless you guys."

Julie Plec, who began her career working with Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson, posted a tribute, writing, "A vibrant young man. A father and husband and friend. A generational icon. RIP JVDB. Sleep now, Dawson."

Kerr Smith, who starred as Jack McPhee in Dawson's Creek, shared that he is "grateful for being able to call James a brother".

"I'll miss him deeply. Rest easy," he added, commenting on the family's announcement post.

Another Dawson's Creek co-star, Busy Phillips also expressed her heartbreak with a post on Instagram.

"My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today … every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister," she wrote.

"But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children.

"James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and I don't know what else to say. I am just so so sad. He was my friend and I loved him and i'm so grateful for our friendship all these years."\

Van Der Beek's onscreen mum is "at a loss for words".

Mary Margaret Humes, who played Dawson's mum Gale Leery in the '90s drama, posted a heartfelt tribute to Instagram as she grappled with the news.

"James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity. I will always love and admire you for that," she wrote.

"Our last conversations … merely a few days ago … are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping. To our extended Dawson's Creek family of friends … please be respectful of our silences at the moment as beautiful Kimberly and family have asked for peaceful privacy for now."

Van Der Beek's onscreen mum is at a loss for words. Image: Instagram/ @thereal_marymargarethumes

"I have colorectal cancer. I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family," he told People in November 2024.

"There's reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good," Van Der Beek added at the time.

Van Der Beek is survived by Kimberly and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

Listen to more on the Dawson's Creek reunion on The Spill's Morning Tea. Post continues below.

James Van Der Beek's career.

Van Der Beek wasn't a 'Hollywood kid'. Born in Connecticut in 1977, he was a self-described theatre nerd who discovered his passion for acting after a concussion forced him off the football field in middle school.

At just 15, he famously asked his mother to drive him into New York City so he could find an agent. His determination paid off early; he made his professional off-Broadway debut at 16 in Edward Albee's Finding the Sun.

He briefly attended Drew University on an academic scholarship but dropped out when his acting career began to gain serious momentum.

Van Der Beek became a household name in the late '90s with his role as aspiring director Dawson Leery in the popular The WB drama Dawson's Creek.

While the cast included future A-listers like Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson, Van Der Beek was the anchor.

For six seasons, audiences watched Dawson navigate teenage life in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, alongside his best friends Joey, Pacey and Jen in the picturesque.

As they came to know his character, fans began to fall in love with Van Der Beek and two decades on, he still has their hearts.

Image: The WB.

While starring in Dawson's Creek, Van Der Beek successfully transitioned to film with several key roles, including Varsity Blues (1999) and The Rules of Attraction (2002).

In the early 2010s, the actor landed a memorable role as a fictionalised version of himself on sitcom, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. He played James Van Der Beek, an actor struggling to get his career back on track.

"It was a really fun character to play because he was completely without shame," Van Der Beek told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014. "It's fun to mock the business, and it's fun to keep your own ego in check, too. You feel very safe when you're constantly destroying all those little things you keep precious as an actor. It's a very liberating feeling."

More recently, Van Der Beek starred in shows including Western drama Walker, comedy Overcompensating and drama series Pose.

Pacey and Dawson. Image: The WB.

James Van Der Beek's cancer battle.

In November 2024, when he announced he had been navigating cancer, fans around the world were left shocked.

The actor was forced to reveal his cancer diagnosis earlier than he had planned after learning a tabloid was about to break the story.

"There's no playbook for how to announce these things, but I'd planned on talking about it at length with PEOPLE at some point soon… to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms," he said in an Instagram post.

"But that plan had to be altered early this morning when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news."

Van Der Beek proceeded to explain that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer — a type of cancer that affects the colon or the rectum.

After announcing his diagnosis, Van Der Beek opened up about how the experience changed his perspective.

"I had to come nose to nose with death, and all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me," he said.

"I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband that was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them."

Image: Instagram/vanderjames.

James Van Der Beek surprises fans at Dawson's Creek reunion.

Last year, Van Der Beek was set to reunite with his Dawson's Creek co-stars at a highly anticipated event, but he was forced to miss out due to illness.

The charity event brought together Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps for a live reading of the show's pilot episode at Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City.

The evening was held in support of charity F Cancer and Van Der Beek, as he continued to navigate his cancer diagnosis.

Two stomach viruses prevented the actor from attending the charity event in person, but he surprised fans with a virtual appearance.

"I have been looking forward to this night for months and months, ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together," the actor said.

"I can't believe I'm not there. I can't believe I don't get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person."

Van Der Beek surprised fans with a video message.

While Van Der Beek wasn't there, his wife Kimberly and their children were and they joined the cast on stage of a sing-along of the series' theme song, 'I Don't Want to Wait' by Paula Cole.

After the event, she shared an emotional video thanking everyone for their support.

"This night was so special to the whole family, and more importantly, just feeling my husband fill the entire theatre, and the love for him," Kimberly said.

"We'll be unwinding this one for a while, but thank you for the love and support and for the prayers, cause right here, front and centre, is my husband on my heart.

"It was a beautiful night, and I miss my husband. I can't wait to go see him tomorrow."

James and Kimberly welcomed six children together. Image: Claiborne Swanson Frank via Instagram/vanderjames

James Van Der Beek's family.

After his breakout role, Van Der Beek went on to marry actress Heather McComb, who played in the TV series The Outsiders.

The pair married in July 2003 but went on to separate six years later, citing irreconcilable differences in April, 2009.

Their divorce was finalised in March 2010.

Shortly after his first marriage ended, Van Der Beek met the woman who would become his "soul mate" on a group trip, Kimberly.

"A year prior to that, I'd been famous, been wealthy, been married, been divorced, been less-than-wealthy, been single... and I was in Israel, on a trip with an organised group, when it hit me: I was done being single. I wanted a real relationship. A soul mate. Someone with whom I could build a family," Van Der Beek explained of the moment they met in a heartfelt Instagram post on their tenth wedding anniversary.

"I was mid-revelation, rattling all this off to a friend of mine when a voice interrupted us, wanting to ask him a question. I was annoyed. Who the hell was stepping all over my moment?"

He turned around. It was Kimberly.

Six months later, they were living together. Two weeks after that, they were pregnant with their first child, Olivia Van Der Beek, and one year "to the date" after they first met, they were married.

The couple tied the knot in August 2010, with Van Der Beek announcing their nuptials in a since-deleted post.

Olivia was born a month later and they went on to welcome another five children together.

Feature image: Instagram/vanderjames.