By MARK KENNEDY
NEW YORK (AP) — James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas on the daybreak of the brand new millennium, taking pictures to fame taking part in the titular character in “Dawson’s Creek” and in later years mocking his personal hunky persona, has died. He was 48.
A press release posted on the actor’s official Instagram web page Wednesday mentioned Van Der Beek died earlier within the day. “He met his ultimate days with braveness, religion, and beauty,” the assertion mentioned.
Van Der Beek revealed in 2024 that he was being handled for colorectal most cancers.
Van Der Beek made a shock video look in September at a “Dawson’s Creek” reunion charity occasion in New York Metropolis after beforehand dropping out because of sickness.
He appeared projected onstage on the Richard Rodgers Theatre throughout a dwell studying of the present’s pilot episode to profit F Most cancers and Van Der Beek. Lin-Manuel Miranda subbed for him on stage. “Thanks to each single individual right here,” Van Der Beek mentioned.
Perpetually tied to ‘Dawson’s Creek’
A one-time theater child, Van Der Beek would star within the film “Varsity Blues” and on TV in “CSI: Cyber” as FBI Particular Agent Elijah Mundo, however was ceaselessly related to “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003 on The WB.
The collection adopted a highschool group of mates as they discovered about falling in love, creating actual friendships and discovering their footing in life. Van Der Beek, than 20, performed 15-year-old Dawson Leery, who aspired to be a director of Steven Spielberg high quality.
“Dawson’s Creek,” with the moody theme track Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Need To Wait,” helped outline The WB as a haven for teenagers and younger adults who associated to its hyper-articulate dialogue and frank discuss sexuality. And it made family names of Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams.
The present precipitated a stir when one of many teenagers launched into a racy affair with a trainer 20 years his senior and when Holmes’ character climbs by means of Dawson’s bed room window they usually curl up collectively. Racier reveals like “Euphoria” and “Intercourse Schooling” owe a debt to “Dawson’s Creek.”
Van Der Beek generally struggled to get out from underneath the shadow of the present however ultimately leaned into lampooning himself, like on Humorous Or Die movies and on Kesha’s “Blow” music video, which included his laser gun battle with the pop star in a nightclub and useless unicorns.
“It’s robust to compete with one thing that was the cultural phenomenon that ‘Dawson’s Creek’ was,” he instructed Vulture in 2013. “It ran for therefore lengthy. That’s plenty of hours taking part in one character in entrance of individuals. So it’s pure that they affiliate you with that.”
