James Van Der Beek was mourned by his former Dawson’s Creek co-stars, peers, friends and family when he died on February 11, 2026, following a battle with colorectal cancer. As Hollywood paid tribute to his on-screen work and off-screen personality, James’ career, net worth and overall legacy made headlines.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” a statement shared to James’ Instagram that day read. “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.”
Below, learn about James’ net worth and acting career.
James Van Der Beek’s Most Famous Movies & TV Shows
Out of all his television credits, James’ most famous role was playing Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek. He starred in the hit WB series from 1998 to 2003.
The late Connecticut native also appeared in the shows Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment, CSI: Cyber and Pose. His most recognizable film performances were in Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, The Rules of Attraction, Formosa Betrayed, Labor Day and Bad Hair.
James Van Der Beek’s Net Worth
As of February 2026, James had a net worth of $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His high net worth came from years of steady work in film and on TV.
What Happened to James Van Der Beek? His Cancer Battle
James was battling colorectal cancer in his final years. He was diagnosed in 2023 but didn’t announce it until the following year in an emotional Instagram post.
“Each year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I’m one of them,” James wrote at the time. “There’s no playbook for how announce these things, but I’d planned on talking about it at length with People magazine at some point soon … to raise awareness and tell my story on my own terms. But that plan had to be altered early this morning when I was informed that a tabloid was going to run with the news.”
The late Varsity Blues star noted that he’d “been dealing with this privately” and was “in a good place and feeling strong” despite the diagnosis.
