Friends and co-stars react to James Van Der Beek's death

Stars from across the world are paying tribute to James Van Der Beek after his passing.

Van Der Beek is best known for his titular role on TV’s 1998 drama “Dawson’s Creek.” He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, and continued working as an actor and spreading awareness about colon cancer prevention.

His death was announced in a joint Instagram post with his wife Kimberly.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” a post on the actor’s wife’s Instagram account said. “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.”

Van Der Beek is survived by Kimberly and their six children.

Read some of the heartfelt tributes from Van Der Beek’s friends and co-stars:

Busy Philipps

“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. But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children. There is a go fund me for them to help out and i’ll put the link in my stories. 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.”

Stacy Kiebler

“Spending these final days with you has been a true gift from God.
I have never been so present in my life. When you know time is sacred, you don’t waste a single breath. You don’t rush. You don’t scroll. You don’t worry about tomorrow. You sit. You listen. You hold hands. You watch the sky change colors and you let it change you too. In these past days, you taught me more about being present than any book ever could. You showed me what it looks like to trust God’s plan, even when it breaks your heart. Especially when it breaks your heart. The other night we watched the sunset together as you shared your wisdom, your hopes, and the promises we made to each other. We talked about how this world can feel upside down…and how maybe heaven needs your spirit now to help steady us down here. And just as the sun slipped away, a shooting star crossed the sky…as if to remind us that none of this is random.”