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James Van Der Beek paid tribute to his family in his heartbreaking final social media post before his death(Image: Instagram)

Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek reflected on some special people in his life in his final social media post just two weeks before his death at age 48, following a battle with colorectal cancer.

Van Der Beek’s death was confirmed in a statement by his family on Instagram on Wednesday, February 11, just over 14 months after he announced he was battling the disease, which he had been diagnosed with in August 2023.

“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,” the statement read.

The news came just a couple of weeks after what would be the last time he took to social media for himself, in a post paying tribute to one his six children and his father, as they both celebrated their birthdays.

“My father and my daughter share a birthday today. At first, I thought that was all they shared–they seemed so different to me,” he started off the caption to the post, which featured one image of himself as he hugged his daughter, Anabel, from behind, as well as an image of his father and daughter seated together on a couch and also embracing in a hug.

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“But as the two of you have evolved, and let more of who you are shine through, I can recognize the same open, warm, loving, gentle heart,” he continued. “I see the care and dedication you shower on those you love most. I see the same out-of-the-box Aquarian creativity and originality. And you both make every room you’re in more fun. Different senes of humor, but you both have a way of alchemizing the vibe around you in such a subtle way one can almost miss how powerfully you do this.”

“In this crazy world, it’s a wonder to me that you’ve managed to stay so open, so tender, and so genuinely good. You are marvels..and I’m so insanely grateful to have you in my life. The world is a better place because the two of you are in it.”

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Van Der Beek paid tribute to his family in his final social media post before his death(Image: Instagram/ @vanderjames)

After going public with his diagnosis, the actor became vocal about his health journey, with the hope of raising awareness regarding the disease as it becomes more prevalent in healthy adults below the age of 55.

“That’s one of the reasons I want to talk about it and the reason I’m talking about it and the reason I’m talking about it so openly,” he told People Magazine at the time.

“I’ve been dealing with this pretty much in secret for a while, and in the past, I’ve found it helpful and cathartic to share things publicly. And I’ve found a lot of support that way. But more than that, I really wanted to raise awareness.”

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Van Der Beek is survived by his wife and six children(Image: Instagram/ @vanderjames)

One year later, he announced he would be auctioning off items from both Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues in an effort to assist with the costs associated with his cancer treatment.

Van Der Beek was best known for playing Dawson Leery in the teen drama series Dawson’s Creek from January 1998 to May 2003. The show helped catapult the careers of him and his co-stars, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes.

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He also starred in the teen football drama Varsity Blues in 1999, for which he won an MTV Movie Award for his role as Jonathan “Mox” Moxon. Later gigs included a small role on One Tree Hill, as well as a stint where he played a narcissistic version of himself in the short-lived series Don’t Trust the B—-in Apartment 23.

He is survived by his father, his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children–daughters Olivia, Annabel Leah, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.