James Van Der Beek has died at age 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer.
"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared on Instagram. "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."
Beyond his iconic roles on Dawson's Creek, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and more, Van Der Beek was a husband and father-of-six known to fans for his sharp wit, self-awareness and surprisingly grounded outlook on fame, creativity and life’s curveballs, which he shared so memorably over the years.
Keep reading for a heart-warming and eye-opening look at his best quotes on life, love and more.
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1. “...[H]ow many of us out there are running around trying to accomplish goals that were set by reactive, younger, less wise versions of ourselves, and how much happier would we be if we could just erase those outdated goals, forgive ourselves for not meeting that bar and just go to something that lights us up?” -August 8, 2024
2. “...I had to look my own mortality in the eye [and] I was faced with the question, ‘If I am just a too-skinny, weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?’ And I meditated and the answer came through: I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.” -March 8, 2025
3. “It’s always good to plan fun things to do with your kids…but some of my favorite memories have been made on the fly, and against the advice of my logical mind.” -July 4, 2025
4. “Being a father has been the most treasured honor of my life. Thank you to my kids for re-teaching me how to live, laugh, love, and show up in my own life and in the world.” -June 15, 2025
View this post on Instagram5. “To all the mothers out there who feel overlooked, overworked, unappreciated and under-honored…At some point, every mother has felt this way. Because, given everything that mothers do — and often with no one around — it would actually be impossible to truly honor them in a way that measures up to what they give. So even though you may not get anywhere near the outward acknowledgment you deserve…please don’t underestimate the positive impact you have on those you love. ” -May 12, 2025
6. “I’m often asked for marriage advice, and I always hesitate to give it out because I very much feel like I’m still learning on the job — my wife can attest to that. But there is one thing that feels universal enough to share, which is: Evolve with your spouse. …If your spouse joins a church or leaves a church or is looking for a church, go with them, explore that together. If they read a book, and all of a sudden they are putting everything through the lens of the philosophy of that book … read that book. …Go along for the ride with them. Because life is so much sweeter when you get to evolve with somebody else.” -Feb. 15, 2024
6. “I believe it’s healthy to dress up and play make-believe every once in a while. To step into someone else’s shoes and dance within new energetics. Even if you’re not insane enough to try to make a career out of acting, I personally believe everyone can benefit from trying on a different personality for a night.” -Oct. 31, 2023
View this post on Instagram7. “Taking the leap. There’s that moment right before you go, when your brain tries to talk you out of it: '“'This is too weird, you’re not ready, this could be bad, we really need to micromanage this.”' I used to try to power through that — just hold my nose and go. What I’m trying now…is listening to that scared voice in my head, and saying: '“'I hear you… and I’ve got you.'" -July 20, 2023
8. “Balance… if finding it was easy, we’d all be saints, right?” -April 11, 2022
9. “Thank god for the surprises. For the detours. For those times the universe heard my plans and said: '“'Yeah, that’s cute… try THIS.'" -April 7, 2022
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10. “…The only worthwhile questions seem to be: What kind of energy am I generating? What’s my contribution to the collective? And how does it feel in my heart? Everything else is just noise.” -March 8, 2022
11. “If life is a journey, not a destination…then relationships are your vehicle. They take you to places and experiences you would’ve never gotten to on your own. They accelerate your process. And with the proper care, attention and maintenance they can make the easy parts more fun…and get you through the rough patches.” -Feb. 14, 2022
View this post on Instagram12. “I’ve come to the realization that I know nothing. And I’m getting comfortable with that. Don’t get me wrong — this is not a self-esteem thing. I’ve always considered myself pretty smart (even when presented with evidence to the contrary), but for all my plans, my hopes, dreams, intuition, talents, calculations and experience…Today I feel like I know f---ing nothing about anything.” -Jan. 18, 2022
13. “There was a moment when I thought I needed to teach my kids that life can be hard… but life does a perfectly adequate job teaching that on its own. So I realized I was probably most useful teaching my kids what can be easy: How easy it can be to laugh, to love, to cry, to learn…and to find joy in both the plans and the detours alike.” -Dec. 17. 2021
14. “Sometimes parenthood is overwhelming. Sometimes, we try to hold too much, with so much care, that we reach capacity, short-circuit, and then feel badly that we’ve failed. We don’t reach for the camera and post those moments…but they happen. To everybody.” -Oct. 3, 2021
15. “Coming to the realization that I’m really just a steward: Of my health, of my talents, of my relationships. And that my sovereignty exists, not to seize ownership in my interactions with the world around me…but to nurture the quality of those connections.” -Aug. 23, 2021
16. “So many of life’s best experiences are on the other side of what we know. What’s familiar. What’s routine. …When you launch into the unknown with your eyes wide open, the lessons are yours to keep.” -Aug. 5, 2021
17. “I’m still constantly finding old programs running in the background of my consciousness, blaring at me to pick up the pace in a race that’s long been over. And as I gently close those programs out, I make a renewed effort to create space that allows me to tune into the quiet whispers of my soul’s true desires. Because I’m learning it’s not just about saying what you want...it’s also about listening in case there’s a better plan in store.” -July 28, 2021
18. “I want to thank my children for choosing me. I’ve never felt ownership over any of them...more that I’ve won the great cosmic adoption lottery. They’ve each awakened a different part of my soul and continue to teach me what it means to be a better father, and a better human.” -June 20, 2021
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19. “Creativity used to just be my joy. Then, at some point, it became the means to an end. Now...I’ve come to recognize joy as the end — and creativity as the key. With my forties has come the recognition that I’m a better father, better husband, better human when I open my heart to that creative spark and invite it into everything I do. Because it doesn’t matter the medium, the venue, or how it’s received... the magic is being in the flow.” -March 8, 2021
20. “Sometimes, what we’re born into suits us just fine...but if you’re feeling called to explore a life outside the boundaries you inherited...don’t let old stories stand in your way.” —Jan. 28, 2021
21. “I can’t tell the future. I don’t know what’s going to happen. And I’m far from perfect. All I know is...I don’t think I’ll ever look back and wish I’d spent LESS time with my kids.” -Sept. 10, 2020
View this post on Instagram22. “We’ll never be able to fully appreciate everything our mothers went through...the challenges, the triumphs, the daily struggles and joys, the sacrifices and the gifts passed down both through DNA and by nurture. But we can appreciate THEM...for everything they are.” -March 10, 2020
23. “So much of what I’m grateful for about this decade has been the shit I never saw coming. Can’t wait to see what’s next...Cheers to tossing out our best-laid plans and rolling with life’s surprises.” -Dec. 31, 2019
24. “True paradise is connection with the ones you love. But a tropical island doesn’t hurt, either.” -June 30, 2019
25. “Had the revelation that when we desire approval from somebody, we start playing by their rules...we give priority to their values...and we accept their ceiling as our own limitation. Finding your voice means relaxing into your own power, not giving a sh*t about who’s impressed and who’s not, and daring to live the truth that resonates with you.” -May 9, 2019
View this post on Instagram26. “One of the most cringeworthy phrases I hear...is, 'Be a man.' Especially when it’s said to young boys, because the message is often: '“'Be tough. Don’t cry. Suck it up. Act like nothing effects you.' To me...that’s just empty posturing. Being a real man means being strong enough to be empathetic. To be sensitive. To be caring, kind, and confident enough to appreciate and nurture your feminine side.” -Feb. 26, 2019
27. “You can navigate life with your head or your heart. One of them can plan, calculate, and see several steps ahead. The other tends to be nearsighted...but might just make you happy wherever you’re at.” -Jan. 14, 2019
28. “Parenthood is going through the day with mystery stains on the back of your shirt you had no idea were there.” -Sept. 29, 2017
29. “We need a new word for it. '“'Mis-carriage,' in an insidious way, suggests fault for the mother — as if she dropped something, or failed to 'carry.' From what I’ve learned, in all but the most obvious, extreme cases, it has nothing to do with anything the mother did or didn’t do. So let’s wipe all blame off the table.” -Sept. 7, 2018
30. “The less seriously you take yourself, the better work you're going to do." -April 2012
Next: Get to Know James Van Der Beek's 6 Kids
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