James Vanderbeek was an American actor, producer, and writer best known for his breakout role as Dawson Leery on the hit teen drama series Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003). Beyond teen drama fame, Van Der Beek has demonstrated versatility through roles in films, comedies, dramas, and self-parody appearances that showcase his range and humor. In 2025, Beek competed on season thirteen of The Masked Singer as “Griffin” whose costume featured wings that opened during performances. In 2026, Van Der will posthumously appear in the Legally Blonde prequel television series Elle.
Birth Name
James David Van Der Beek Jr.
Nickname
Baby James, Beek
Profession
Actor, Producer, Writer
Nationality
American
Personal Life
Birthday / Date of Birth
James Vanderbeek was born on the 8th of March 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, United States.
Died
He was died on the 11th of February 2026 (aged 48), in Austin, Texas, United States (Colon Cancer).
Sun Sign
Pisces
Ethnicity
Mixed
Religion
Christianity
Education
He attended Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. He later studied at Drew University in New Jersey, majoring in English and sociology, but left college to pursue acting full-time in New York.
Family Details
- Father – James William David Van Der Beek Sr. (Cell phone company executive)
- Mother – Melinda Weber (Former Dancer and Gymnastics Teacher)
- Siblings – Jared Van Der Beek (Brother), Juliana Van Der Beek (Sister)
Marital Status
Girlfriend / Spouse
Dave Coulier has dated –
- – In 2003, Van Der Beek married actress Heather McComb. In 2010, the couple divorced.
Physical Statistics
Height
- In feet – 6 feet 0 inches
- In centimeters – 183 cm
- In meters – 183 m
Weight
- In Kilograms – 82 kg
- In Pounds – 181 lbs
Body Measurements
- Measurements – 40-14-32
- Waist – 40 Inches
- Biceps – 15 Inches
- Chest – 32 Inches
Body Build
Athletic
Eye Color
Blue
Hair Color
Light Brown
Shoe Size
He wears a size 10 (US) shoe.
Sexuality
Straight
Professional Statistics
Famous For
Beek is best known for portraying Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, Jonathan Moxon in Varsity Blues, and for playing exaggerated versions of himself in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. He is widely recognized for his cultural impact on late 1990s teen television.
Television Debut
In 1993, James landed his first role in television by appearing as Paulie, in the series Clarissa Explains It All.
Film Debut
In 1995, Van Der Beek had his first film onscreen role in the movie, Angus as Rick Sandford.
James Vanderbeek Net worth
James Vanderbeek has an estimated net worth of $5 million dollars as of 2026.
Social Media Profiles
- Facebook– James Vanderbeek
- Instagram – vanderjames
- X – James Vanderbeek
Some Lesser Known Facts About James Vanderbeek
- James was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, as the oldest of three children of Melinda (Weber), a gymnastics studio owner and Broadway dancer, and Jim Van Der Beek, a cell phone company executive.
- Van started acting at 13 after suffering a concussion playing football that prevented him from playing for a year on doctor’s orders.
- He landed the role of Danny Zuko in his school production of “Grease.” After that, the acting bug sank in and the next three years he spent time doing local theater.
- Around 16, he and his mother went to New York City to find an agent and possible auditions. A year later, he was cast in an off-Broadway play called Finding the Sun.
- After doing another play called Shenandoah in 1994, James received an academic scholarship to Drew University in NJ, where he was working towards obtaining a major in English with a minor in sociology and also at that time he won the role of Rick Sanford in the movie Angus (1995).
- In 1996, he won a very small supporting role in I Love You, I Love You Not (1996) which starred Claire Danes.
- After that film his acting career was at a dead end and he decided to continue with his schooling and eventually made the Dean’s list. The college experience soon became old for James, so he took some time off to travel and when he returned he auditioned for a role in Dawson’s Creek (1998).
- James won the lead in the show, and his life changed forever. Though James has taken a hiatus from his college studies to shoot the series, he still plans to finish his degree.
- He has starred in several hit films over the past couple of years, like Varsity Blues (1999) and Texas Rangers (2001).
- In 2019, he competed on Dancing with the Stars and finished in fifth place.
- Van Der Beek has also worked as a producer and writer, expanding his career beyond acting.
- On August 31, 2023, Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer; he did not make his diagnosis public until November 2024.
- In November 2025, he announced that he would be auctioning items from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues to help cover costs associated with his cancer treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James Vanderbeek?
He was an American actor, producer, and writer best known for his breakout role as Dawson Leery on the hit teen drama series Dawson’s Creek (1998–2003).
What is the real name of James Vanderbeek?
His real name is James David Van Der Beek Jr..
What is the age of James Vanderbeek?
He is 48 years old (8th of March 1977).
What is James Vanderbeek Height?
The Height of James is 1.83 m (6′0”).
What is James Vanderbeek Educational Background?
He attended Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. He later studied at Drew University in New Jersey, majoring in English and sociology, but left college to pursue acting full-time in New York.
What is James Vanderbeek Known For?
He is best known for portraying Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, Jonathan Moxon in Varsity Blues, and for playing exaggerated versions of himself in Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
What is the Net worth of James Vanderbeek?
He has an estimated net worth of $5 million dollars as of 2026.