2026 has been dealing some heavy blows so far in terms of celebrity losses. Last week, Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek passed away at 48. While the cause of death was not officially released, Van Der Beek was officially diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, publicly announcing it the following year.
This year has been an unrelenting reminder of our own mortality. For many, Van Der Beek was an actor we grew up with. We all know the Dawson’s Creek theme song, regardless if we watched it or not. Even with the public diagnosis of his illness, his passing still hit hard. He also leaves behind a wife and six kids.
