James Van Der Beek, born March 8, 1977, is an American actor. His most notable role is Dawson Leery in Dawson's Creek, in which he starred from 1998 to 2003.
Since then, James has appeared in many TV shows and films and proved his acting caliber with every new project. Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, James started his acting career with theater. His last name translates to 'from the creek' in Dutch, a coincidental nod to his most famous show, Dawson's Creek.
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After participating in a production of famous musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in his middle school, James moved to New York at 15 to try professional acting.
James Van Der Beek recently announced the news of his colorectal cancer via Instagram and then in an interview with People Magazine. He has assured his fans that he is in good spirits, working on his upcoming projects and trying to be healthy.
Exploring James Van Der Beek's career in films and shows
After working in minor roles in theater, he appeared in a feature film, Angus, in 1995, where he played a sadistic bully. He also appeared in an independent movie, I Love You, I Love You Not (1996).
He was enrolled in Drew University under an academic scholarship when Dawson's Creek was picked up as a series. He originally auditioned for three pilots, including Dawson's Creek.
James Van Der Beek was selected for the titular role of Dawson Leery on the show, whose debut was a hit. The network decided to continue the show, which ran for six seasons and became a nationwide hit.
He then starred in a teen football drama, Varsity Blues, which earned him an MTV Movie Award. The show also remained in the top charts of the US in the first two weeks of its release.
He has appeared in movies such as Texas Rangers, Scary Movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, The Rules of Attraction, and The Plague.
Apart from his movie roles, he has also made cameos and guest appearances in many television shows, including Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, and Modern Family. He also starred in a recurring role in One Tree Hill and did a two-part episode on Criminal Minds.
James also appeared on Dancing with the Stars Season 28 with professional dancer Emma Slater. After being eliminated in the semi-finals, he finished in fifth place.
His upcoming film, Sidelined: The QB and Me, will be released in November 2024.
Who is James Van Der Beek married to?
James Van Der Beek married actress, Heather McComb in 2003. The couple separated and got a divorce in 2009. He then married business consultant, Kimberly Brook in August 2010.
The couple has six children together: four daughters and two sons. His wife suffered from two miscarriages in 2019 and 2020 while being 17 weeks pregnant.
The actor opened up about the first miscarriage, which happened while he was participating in Dancing with the Stars -
“It progressed very quickly into being worried about Kim. we were both just crying and sobbing and there was a lot of blood. Way more blood than any delivery,”
After the miscarriage in 2020, the couple finally welcomed their sixth child, Jeremiah, in 2021.
Recently, James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He took to his Instagram to share the news of his diagnosis. He also opened up about the same with People Magazine:
“I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,”
While the actor wants to deal with the cancer privately, with the support of his family, he has assured that he is positive to battle this obstacle bravely. We wish a speedy recovery to him.
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