32 votes

James Van Der Beek, the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star who later mocked his own hunky persona, has died at 48

11 comments

  1. [4]
    Narry
    Link
    I know he’s famous for Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, but I’ll always love him best as a parody of himself in Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23. He and Krysten Ritter are amazing in that show,...

    I know he’s famous for Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, but I’ll always love him best as a parody of himself in Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23. He and Krysten Ritter are amazing in that show, and it also has Eric André, and Liza Lapira. It’s a sad loss. Fuck cancer.

    10 votes
    1. lynxy
      Link Parent
      I only really know him as the voice of Pazu in the English dub of Ghibli's Laputa. But not having watched much of the content he helped create doesn't lessen the loss. Fuck cancer.

      I only really know him as the voice of Pazu in the English dub of Ghibli's Laputa.

      But not having watched much of the content he helped create doesn't lessen the loss. Fuck cancer.

      3 votes
    2. [2]
      Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      I also that he was great in B23. This also prompted me to finally schedule my colonoscopy, so there's that.

      I also that he was great in B23. This also prompted me to finally schedule my colonoscopy, so there's that.

      3 votes
      1. Narry
        Link Parent
        That’s a good thing to do. I also need to get on that.

        That’s a good thing to do. I also need to get on that.

        2 votes
  2. [3]
    cfabbro
    Link
    Related article from the BBC: He was once a teen 'superstar'. Why did James Van Der Beek need help to pay his medical bills?
    8 votes
    1. [2]
      paolia
      Link Parent
      Really appreciate the article link. The first thing I thought of when my partner told me the news of his death + how close they got to bankruptcy was "seriously? Even he couldn't/didn't earn...

      Really appreciate the article link. The first thing I thought of when my partner told me the news of his death + how close they got to bankruptcy was "seriously? Even he couldn't/didn't earn enough to stay afloat vs cancer??"

      I don't know what else to say about it other than acknowledging how terrifying it is.

      4 votes
      1. cfabbro
        Link Parent
        Yeah, it's pretty fucked up that he never made any residuals from Dawson's Creek. And the situation was made even worse because of how fucked up the US healthcare system is too. Depressing stuff....

        Yeah, it's pretty fucked up that he never made any residuals from Dawson's Creek. And the situation was made even worse because of how fucked up the US healthcare system is too. Depressing stuff. :( Although at least it did my heart some good to read that people were helping his family with the GoFundMe.

        5 votes
  3. lou
    Link
    I had a Dawson's Creek moment in 2022 that was very nostalgic. This is so sad. That dude is part of my history and was not that much older than me. Also, it's fucked that someone would have to...

    I had a Dawson's Creek moment in 2022 that was very nostalgic.

    This is so sad. That dude is part of my history and was not that much older than me. Also, it's fucked that someone would have to incur debt because they lost the genetic lottery.

    3 votes
  4. [3]
    tomf
    Link
    wild to do a gofundme then put a down payment on a ranch after his death https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/14/james-van-der-beek-friends-help-buy-texas-ranch/ they should find a way to pay back the go...

    wild to do a gofundme then put a down payment on a ranch after his death

    https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/14/james-van-der-beek-friends-help-buy-texas-ranch/

    they should find a way to pay back the go fund me. it just looks dodgy and tarnishes his memory a bit.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      lelio
      Link Parent
      https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/13/james-van-der-beek-purchased-texas-ranch-before-dying/ My take away was van-der-beek himself bought the ranch while he was still alive. He had been living on this...

      https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/13/james-van-der-beek-purchased-texas-ranch-before-dying/

      My take away was van-der-beek himself bought the ranch while he was still alive. He had been living on this ranch since 2020, renting. He was dying so he wanted to buy this ranch so his wife and 6 kids would be at least paying a mortgage rather than renting. To be better set up after he was gone. The friends setup a gofundme then him gave him the money to do that. And he got to do it a few weeks before he died, not after.

      6 votes
      1. tomf
        Link Parent
        I like that take and accept it as gospel :) I really liked him, even though I've barely seen any of his work.

        I like that take and accept it as gospel :) I really liked him, even though I've barely seen any of his work.