The disappearance of James Van Der Beek, died at age 48 of colorectal cancer diagnosed in 2023, upsets fans of Dawson and sheds light on a disease that is still too often silent. As cases increase among those under 50, doctors and researchers are warning of the importance of screening and of these symptoms which should never be ignored.
A fight against colorectal cancer revealed in 2024
He was discovered as a teenager by a stream, haunted by his dreams of cinema and his thwarted loves. This Wednesday, February 11, 2026, James Van Der Beek died in Austin, Texas, surrounded by his family. On his Instagram account, those close to him wrote:
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith and grace. There is much to be said about his final wishes, his love of humanity and the sacredness of time. Those moments will come. For now, we ask to be able to grieve in the privacy of our family, with our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
A few hours later, his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, also declared: “He faced his last days with courage, faith and dignity”.
Diagnosed in 2023 with colorectal cancer, he made his illness public the following year. In the fall of 2025, his condition prevented him from participating in the “Dawson” cast reunion in New York. He appeared there via a video, weakened and with an emaciated face.
Colorectal cancer, second cause of cancer mortality in France
Colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer mortality in France, and which increasingly affects young people, represents a major public health challenge. It affects nearly 47,500 people each year (47,582 cases estimated in 2023), with a clear predominance after the age of 50.
This disease includes cancers of the colon and rectum, which arise in more than 80% of cases from a benign polyp slowly evolving into a malignant tumor. This progressive, often silent development fully justifies the organized screening offered between ages 50 and 74, although it is still underused. In 2022, nearly 17,000 people will die from it, despite therapeutic progress and the steady decline in mortality observed in recent years. Five-year net survival is estimated at 63%, and France remains one of the European countries where the death rate is among the lowest, although the incidence remains high.
A career marked by “Dawson”, self-deprecation and television
Born in Connecticut, James Van Der Beek began acting Off-Broadway while still in high school. After several small roles, in 1997 he landed the character of Dawson Leery, a sensitive and idealistic young filmmaker inspired by creator Kevin Williamson. The series, broadcast on the WB for six seasons, became a global phenomenon, alongside Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson.
In parallel with “Dawson”, he plays an American football player in “Varsity Blues”, a role which earned him an MTV Movie Award. He plays in “The Rules of Attraction”, “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back” and multiplies supporting roles on television: “One Tree Hill”, “Criminal Minds”, “How I Met Your Mother”, “Mercy” and even “Pose”.
His self-deprecation earned him critical success in the Vice series “What Would Diplo Do?”, where he plays a fictional version of the DJ. He was also seen in “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23”, “Friends With Better Lives” or “CSI: Cyber”. He participated in “Dancing With the Stars” (season 28) and surprised viewers by appearing masked in “The Masked Singer” in 2025. His last appearance on screen was in the series “Overcompensating”, in two episodes.
James Van Der Beek was married to actress Heather McComb until 2010. He leaves behind his wife Kimberly Brook and their six children.
Why is there an increase in colorectal cancer among young people?
In a Wall Street Journal publication dated January 11, 2024, Dr. Kimmie Ng of the Dana-Farber Institute had already expressed his concerns: “If we don’t understand this phenomenon now, an entire generation will have to deal with it in the future“.
Currently, the reasons for the increase in cases of colorectal cancer among young people are not clearly established. “Certainly, there are well-known risk factors, such as a diet rich in fat, obesity, lack of physical activity, consumption of cold meats or even genetic predispositions, but this is not enough to explain everything”, underlined Dr Lucas Spindler, gastroenterologist, in a previous article in True Medical. “Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this increase in cancer cases“.
Some experts suggest that ultra-processed foods could play a role. Dr Joe O’Sullivan, an oncologist and professor at Queen’s University Belfast, told MailOnline earlier this year: “Rising cancer rates among young people must be linked to something we consume. Ultra-processed foods represent the biggest lifestyle change in the last 40 years“.
This argument is based on the hypothesis that certain components of these foods could harm the gut microbiome… but this remains to be proven.
What symptoms to watch for, even in young people?
For the record, here are the main symptoms associated with colorectal cancer, which mainly affects men and women between the ages of 60 and 70, with an almost equal ratio.
Symptoms include:
- Blood in the stools;
- Abdominal pain;
- Unintentional weight loss;
- Changes in intestinal transit;
- Anemia, shortness of breath and
fatiguewhich can also be warning signs.
These symptoms are the same in younger patients. However, studies have shown that people under the age of 50 are often diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, perhaps because they are unaware of these health changes.
A recent study in Taiwan of 5,000 people of various ages with the disease found that six in ten people under 50 had rectal bleeding before being diagnosed, compared to less than half of people over 50… but they didn’t seek help, thinking it was hemorrhoids.
So, regardless of age, the advice remains the same: if you experience these symptoms persistently, it is crucial to see a doctor without delay.