James Van Der Beek’s Life and Career in Photos

James Van Der Beek’s Early Days

James Van Der Beek was born on March 8, 1977 in Connecticut. Becoming an actor wasn’t on his radar as a kid, instead, he hoped to be an athlete, he told ABC News.

He was bitten by the acting bug at a young age though, landing in a production of Shenandoah at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut at 17, the outlet reports.

James Van Der Beek’s First Roles

That year he’d also land his first movie role for the 1995 film Angus, which he appeared in with Kathy Bates and Ariana Richards (above.)

James Van Der Beek’s Breakout Role

Everything changed when, at 20-years-old, the actor — who at that point had appeared on a few episodes of As the World Turns as well as an off-Broadway production of Finding the Sun in New York City — booked the role of Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek.

James Van Der Beek on ‘Dawson’s Creek’

The show, which aired from 1998 to 2003, also starred a slew of other up-and-comers including Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson — all seen here on set.

Adjusting to the newfound fame from the hit teen drama was an adjustment, Van Der Beek told PEOPLE years later.

“Getting recognized is something that took me a long time… I had a big learning curve on it,” he revealed.

James Van Der Beek in ‘Varsity Blues’

Amid his time on the show, Van Der Beek also stepped back into film with a leading role in 1999’s Varsity Blues alongside Jon Voight and Paul Walker.

James Van Der Beek’s Awards

The role would win him an MTV Movie Award in 1999 for breakthrough male performance. That same year he also walked home a winner at the first ever Teen Choice Awards.

James Van Der Beek in ‘The Rules of Attraction’

In 2002 Van Der Beek was back in film — this time as a college freshman — in The Rules of Attraction with the likes of Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Biel and Kate Bosworth (seen here with Van Der Beek in the film.)

James Van Der Beek on Stage

As Dawson’s Creek came to an end in 2003, Van Der Beek returned to his theater roots and appeared in an Off-Broadway production of Rain Dance with Randolph Mantooth (seen here along with Jeff Daniels, who was also involved in the production.)

James Van Der Beek Marries Kimberly Brook

Following his split from first wife Heather McComb, Van Der Beek met his current wife Kimberly “on a trip with an organized group” to Israel in 2009. Not long after, the two tied the knot back in Israel on August 1, 2010.

“We’ve gone through success, tragedy, joy, stress, triumph, uncertainty, and through it all… these have been the best years of my life. Every moment. Because I have the BEST adventure partner,” he wrote in an anniversary post on Instagram back in 2023.

“Our life is CRAZY right now. We might be crazier. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

James Van Der Beek on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Van Der Beek joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars in 2019, competing with partner Emma Slater. He made it far in the competition — getting eliminated just  one week ahead of the finale.

James Van Der Beek as a Dad of 6!

In addition to his accomplishments as an actor and performer, Van Der Beek is also a dad six times over, welcoming his first child, Olivia, with Kimberly weeks after tying the knot.

Their family grew again in 2012 with the addition of Joshua and later Annabel Leahin 2014. They became a family of six in 2016 with the arrival of Emilia, followed by Gwendolyn in 2018. And though the happy parents thought they were “done” having children at this point, they became eight family members strong in 2021 when Jeremiah was born.

James Van Der Beek’s Recent Roles

Over the last decade Van Der Beek has continued to act appearing in shows like Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 from 2012 to 2013, some episodes of How I Met Your Mother, a recurring role in CSI: Cyber and in 2018 played Matt Bromley on Pose.

From 2017 to 2021 he lent his voice to the animated series Vampirina and last year appeared in the Tubi original movie Sidelined: The QB and Me.

James Van Der Beek’s Health

In 2024, Van Der Beek revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at 46, after noticing changes in his bowel movements in the summer of 2023.

“This has been a crash course in the mastery of mind, body, and spirit,” he explained to PEOPLE in a November 2024 cover story, though declined to share details about his specific treatment plan. “I thought, ‘This is either going to take me out of the body, or it’s going to teach me how to truly live in it.’”  

James Van Der Beek Today

In late 2024, Van Der Beek joined  Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, Chris Jones, Tyler Posey and Bruno Tonioli to perform in The Real Full Monty special on Fox which sought to raise awareness for prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer testing and research.

When speaking to PEOPLE for the November cover, Van Der Beek said he didn’t want to discuss the stages of recovery or remission.

“I’m very cautiously optimistic. I’m in a place of healing, my energy levels are great,” he said. “When I’ve been out of the woods completely for what feels like a responsible amount of time, I’ll circle back and let you know.”

Adding, “I have a lot to live for.”