The world is still in shock over the tragic death of Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek, aged just 48.It was announced yesterday (11 February) that the actor has passed away ‘peacefully’ following a two-and-a-half-year battle with colorectal cancer.The star was diagnosed in late 2023 following a screening which revealed the existence of a tumour that developed into stage three cancer.An official statement penned by his family and shared to Instagram, read: “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.”

During his cancer battle, Van Der Beek was open about his journey and the symptoms he experienced in order to raise awareness of the disease.In November 2024, he revealed the one symptom that prompted him to go to the doctors and get checked out.Van Der Beek explained to PEOPLE Magazine that the first red flag was a change in bowel habits, however, at first he simply put this down to drinking a lot of coffee.He told the publication: “I thought maybe I needed to stop coffee. Or maybe not put cream in the coffee. But when I cut that out and it didn’t improve, I thought, ‘All right, I better get this checked out.’”After his colonoscopy he wasn’t worried, and the cancer news came as a shock as he had no family history of the disease, was in ‘great shape’ and ‘eating healthy’.”I felt really good coming out of anesthesia, that I’d finally done it,” he said, “Then the gastroenterologist said – in his most pleasant bedside manner – that it was cancer. I think I went into shock.”