See a young James Van Der Beek in his ‘90s high school yearbook photos and get to know the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ actor better.
Full Name: James David Van Der Beek
Birthdate: March 8, 1977
Died: February 11, 2026 (aged 48)
High School: Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, Connecticut
Yearbooks: 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995
Who is James Van Der Beek?
Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
How could you possibly forget about the iconic career of the late James Van Der Beek, spanning from his breakout role as Dawson Leery in ‘Dawson’s Creek’ to more sinister roles such as Adam Reese in ‘One Tree Hill’?
James David Van Der Beek was an award-winning actor who was best known for his role as aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery in the teen drama series Dawson’s Creek. His career began in the mid-90s while he was still a teenager, and he quickly skyrocketed to fame as a teen icon.
He became known later in his career as quite the comedic actor, showcasing his comedic abilities in sitcoms such as Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and How I Met Your Mother. He will be remembered as a versatile actor who captured the attention of audiences with his effortless charm and unmatched talent. He will forever leave a lasting impact on fans and moviegoers worldwide, especially those who grew up watching him in his prime.
What to Know About James Van Der Beek
- Rise to Fame: James Van Der Beek was a quintessential ’90s icon, best known for his breakout role as aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery in the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003).
- Early Education: He attended Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, where he balanced high school with the start of his professional acting career, making his off-Broadway debut at age 16.
- Versatile Career: Beyond his “teen heartthrob” roots, he gained acclaim for his comedic range in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and for playing darker, complex characters in Criminal Minds and One Tree Hill.
- Personal Life: He was a dedicated family man, married to Kimberly Brook since 2010. Together they shared six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.
- A Tragic Loss: After a courageous two-year battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48.
Where Did James Van Der Beek Go to School?
High School Education
James Van Der Beek attended high school at Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut where he began his acting career. While still in high school, he convinced his mother to take him to New York City to begin a career in stage acting. He made his off-Broadway debut at just 16 years old, playing the role of “Fergus” in the premiere of Finding the Sun with the Signature Theatre Company.
Van Der Beek also made his feature film debut in Angus (1995) while still a student at Cheshire. He also filmed a minor role in the indie film I Love You, I Love You Not (1996).
College Education
Van Der Beek attended Drew University in Madison, New Jersey on an academic scholarship from 1995 until 1997, when he left to star in Dawson’s Creek. He studied English and Sociology and sang in an all-male a cappella group at Drew. In 2024, he returned to Drew to deliver the graduation commencement speech, and was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree.
James Van Der Beek: Then vs. Now
James Van Der Beek has always captured attention with his suave looks and effortless charisma. From the ‘90s to today, here’s how he looked from his teenage years vs. now.
Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Magic James Van Der Beek
Early Career in the ‘90s
James Van Der Beek’s iconic career began while still in high school, when he made both his off-Broadway and feature film debuts, appearing in the play Finding the Sun (1993) and the film Angus (1995). He also had a minor role in the independent film I Love You, I Love You Not (1996).
Dawson’s Creek & Varsity Blues
Van Der Beek’s career took off when he landed the role of passionate aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery in the revered teen drama Dawson’s Creek in 1997. He remained on the show from 1998 until its final episode in 2003. His role on the show allowed him to land more consistent work, including as high school quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon in the coming-of-age football comedy-drama Varsity Blues (1999), in which he starred alongside Paul Walker, Jon Voight, and Scott Caan.
Upon his rapid success, Van Der Beek was quickly labeled a “teen heartthrob,” and was named by People magazine as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1998.
James Van Der Beek in the 2000s
JAMES_VAN_DER_BEEK_sansierra_studio.jpg: SANSIERRASTUDIO (Flickr’s profile page)derivative work: WhiteWriter speaks, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Van Der Beek kickstarted the 2000s with a focus on comedy, starring in a number of satirical films, including as a fictionalized version of himself in the satirical stoner comedy Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), and as a version of his character from Dawson’s Creek, Dawson Leery, in the horror satire Scary Movie (2000). He also starred in Roger Avary’s film adaptation of the ‘80s college satire The Rules of Attraction (2002) as Sean Bateman, the younger brother of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho (2000).
Return to Broadway
Following the conclusion of Dawson’s Creek in 2003, Van Der Beek made a return to off-Broadway acting, appearing in Lanford Wilson’s Rain Dance. He starred in a number of notable television roles throughout the mid-to-late 2000s, many of which displayed his versatility as an actor, as he portrayed more villainous characters than he was used to playing.
Two perfect examples of this are in Criminal Minds, where Van Deer Beek plays serial killer Tobias Hankel, and in One Tree Hill, where he plays narcissistic filmmaker Adam Reese, a satirical opposite of the wholesome and admirable Dawson Leery.
Continued Success on Screen
In 2009, Van Deer Beek won Best Actor at the San Diego Film Festival for his exceptional performance as FBI agent Jake Kelly in Formosa Betrayed (2009).
He also made a cameo appearance in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother as an ex-boyfriend of Robin Scherbatsky in 2008 and again in 2013. He rounded out the 2000s with a role in the mystery film Stolen (2009) alongside Jon Hamm.
James Van Der Beek in the 2010s and 2020s
Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Van Deer Beek continued to shine in various roles throughout the 2010s, most notably as a satirical version of himself in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 from 2012 to 2014, once again displaying his impressive comedy chops. From 2015 to 2016, he held a recurring role in the police drama series CSI: Cyber as Senior Field Agent Elijah Mundo, and also appeared in the British sitcom Carters Get Rich (2017) and the film Downsizing (2017) with Matt Damon.
Van Der Beek had his first experience spearheading a project in 2017, when he co-created, wrote, produced, and starred in the comedy series What Would Diplo Do?, a satirical take on the career of DJ and producer Diplo.
Van Der Beek also made appearances on a number of reality shows, including Dancing with the Stars in 2019 and The Masked Singer in 2025. Following his passing in 2026, Fox honored Van Der Beek by re-airing the television special The Real Full Monty, which featured Van Der Beek and a number of other celebrities and raised a considerable amount of money for cancer research. Van Der Beek’s posthumous acting roles include appearances in the film The Gates (2026) and the television series Elle (2026), a prequel to the comedy film Legally Blonde (2001).
Who is James Van Der Beek’s Family?
James Van Der Beek’s Mom, Dad, and Siblings
James Van Der Beek was raised in Cheshire, Connecticut by his mother, Melinda, a dancer and gymnastics teacher, and father, James William Van Der Beek, an executive at AT&T and former minor league baseball pitcher. He had two siblings, a brother named Jared and a sister named Juliana.
Wife & Kids
Van Der Beek was married to business consultant Kimberly Brook from 2010 until his death in 2026. They renewed their wedding vows in early February 2026, shortly before he passed away. They had six children together: Olivia, age 15, Joshua, age 13, Annabel, age 12, Emilia, age 9, Gwendolyn, age 7, and Jeremiah, age 4.
Death of a Legend
James Van Der Beek sadly passed away from colorectal cancer on February 11, 2026 after battling with the illness for almost two and a half years. He announced in November 2025 that he would be auctioning off items from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues in order to pay for the cost of his cancer treatment.
Shortly after his death, A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help his family with the incredible financial burden of his expensive cancer treatment. More than $2.6 million has been raised to help support the cause.
The Legacy of James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek will always be remembered for his natural charm on-screen, and his gentle and kind nature off-screen. He captured the hearts of audiences with his gripping performances, and will forever be a reminder of the joys of youth and the spirit of innocence.
His memorable film roles include:
- Angus (1995)
- I Love You, I Love You Not (1996)
- Varsity Blues (1999)
- Scary Movie (2000)
- Texas Rangers (2001)
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
- The Rules of Attraction (2002)
- Standing Still (2005)
- Formosa Betrayed (2009)
- Stolen (2009)
- Backwards (2012)
- The Magic Bracelet (2013)
- Labor Day (2013)
- Power/Rangers (2015)
- Downsizing (2017)
- Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)
- Sidelined: The QB and Me (2024)
- Sidelined 2: Intercepted (2025)
- The Gates (2026)
His iconic television roles consist of:
- As the World Turns (1995)
- Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003)
- Saturday Night Live (1999)
- Robot Chicken (2006)
- Criminal Minds (2007)
- One Tree Hill (2008–2009)
- How I Met Your Mother (2008–2013)
- Mercy (2010)
- Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (2012)
- Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013)
- The Eric Andre Show (2013)
- Friends with Better Lives (2014)
- CSI: Cyber (2015–2016)
- Carters Get Rich (2017)
- What Would Diplo Do? (2017)
- Modern Family (2017)
- Drop the Mic (2017)
- Vampirina (2017–2021)
- Pose (2018)
- Dancing with the Stars (2019)
- 25 Words or Less (2020)
- The Real Full Monty (2024)
- The Masked Singer (2025)
Discover Legendary Celebrity Yearbooks
The yearbook collection from Classmates® contains 480,000+ yearbooks, including the ones featuring high school photos of James Van Der Beek and your other favorite celebrities!
Search the Classmates catalogue for old yearbook photos of you, your friends, and your family in elementary, middle, high school, or college. Register for Classmates® today!
Related Celeb Yearbook Blogs
- Brad Pitt High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Bradley Cooper High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Joey Lauren Adams High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Luke Perry High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Will Smith High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Reese Witherspoon High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Alec Baldwin High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- John Stamos High School Yearbook Photo & Education
Sources:
All product names, logos, brands, trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.
