James Van Der Beek Dies at 48: Brother's Tribute Highlights Grief and Growing Alarm Over Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a generational icon as the star of Dawson's Creek, died on February 11 at the age of 48 after a prolonged battle with colorectal cancer James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram.. His death has prompted an outpouring of grief from Hollywood and renewed public attention to a disease that is increasingly striking people well before their fiftieth birthday.

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer and went public with the diagnosis in November 2024 during an appearance on FOX's The Real Full Monty, a special produced in partnership with a major cancer advocacy organization to raise awareness about cancer screening James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram.. At the time, he described the diagnosis as a shock — he had been experiencing intermittent symptoms for months before seeking medical attention.

His family announced his death in a statement posted to Instagram: "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. 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" James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram..

Two days later, Van Der Beek's younger brother Jared broke his silence with an Instagram post that quickly circulated across social media. "There's a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken," he wrote James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram.. "I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There is a feeling of devastation and pain that runs so deep in the heart, I didn't know it would hurt so badly. He was my person, the one I went to for any and all things. I've looked up to him since I was born. He has never failed to be there for me whenever I needed him."

Jared described his brother not as a celebrity but as a guide and confidant. "It has been wonderful reading and seeing how he touched so many lives not because of something he did, but because of who he was," he wrote . "He shared with an open heart and with his wise soul." He thanked the community of people "intimately involved in his passing" for helping his brother's "transition be as beautiful as possible" James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram..

In additional words shared publicly, Jared addressed his brother directly: "James, I already miss your physical being and your words of wisdom over the phone. Yet, I also feel your presence so strongly and I know you will continue to be guiding me. Thank you for living your life with me. I love you" James Van Der Beek’s Brother Posts Statement Thanking Supporters For ‘Outpouring of Love’: ‘I Now Know Why People Call it Heartbreak’variety.com·SecondaryJames Van Der Beek’s younger brother, Jared Van Der Beek, took to Instagram on Friday to thank those who have reached out following James’ death on Wednesday. “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he wrote. “I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There is a feeling of devastation and pain that runs so deep in the heart, I didn’t know it would hurt so badly..

The tributes from the entertainment industry have been swift. Former castmates and contemporaries from the late-1990s teen drama era posted remembrances on social media, while cancer advocacy organizations praised Van Der Beek's willingness to speak openly about his diagnosis and his work in raising awareness about screening James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram..

But the reaction has not been limited to mourning. Van Der Beek's death has become a flashpoint in the larger conversation about early-onset colorectal cancer, a trend that has alarmed oncologists for over a decade. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer rates among adults under 55 have been climbing steadily since the mid-1990s, and the disease is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 in the United States. The causes of this increase remain poorly understood, though researchers have pointed to dietary factors, changes in the gut microbiome, obesity, and reduced physical activity as potential contributors.

Critics of the current screening guidelines argue that the recommended age for first colonoscopy — lowered from 50 to 45 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2021 — still misses many patients. Van Der Beek himself spoke publicly about having experienced symptoms that he initially dismissed, echoing a pattern that gastroenterologists say is dangerously common among younger patients who assume they are too young for the disease James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram..

Not everyone has responded to the wave of support in good faith. Online scam artists have reportedly launched fraudulent fundraising campaigns claiming to raise money for the Van Der Beek family, prompting warnings from fans and media outlets to verify any efforts before donating. The family has not publicly endorsed any crowdfunding campaign.

Van Der Beek's career extended well beyond his breakout role. He appeared in more than forty film and television projects, including Varsity Blues, Rules of Attraction, Pose, and What Would Diplo Do?, and had become an increasingly visible presence on social media, where he shared family life with a candor unusual for actors of his generation. In recent years he had relocated his family from Los Angeles to a ranch in Texas, a move motivated by a desire for simplicity and closer family connections James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram..

James Van Der Beek was 48 years old. He is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram.. Funeral arrangements have not been publicly announced.

The broader significance of Van Der Beek's death lies not only in the loss of a beloved performer but in the questions it forces about how seriously the medical establishment takes colorectal cancer in younger adults. As Jared Van Der Beek put it: "As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support. I truly thank all of you have taken the time to reach out, letting me know that you're there" James Van Der Beek’s Brother Thanks Supporters After His Death: “He Was My Person”deadline.com·SecondaryAs fans and loved ones mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, his family is expressing their gratitude. Jared Van Der Beek, the late actor’s younger brother, thanked supporters and those who “have taken time to reach out,” as well as the people who helped his brother’s “transition be as beautiful as possible.” “There’s a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken,” he started in a statement on Instagram.. Whether that outpouring translates into policy changes — earlier screening, better insurance coverage, more aggressive research funding — remains to be seen.