James David Van Der Beekis an American actor. Known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery on The WB's Dawson's Creek (1998–2003), he also played a fictionalized version of himself on the cult ABC sitcom Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012–2013), starred on CSI: Cyber as FBI Agent Elijah Mundo (2015–2016), and appeared as Matt Bromley on the first season of the FX drama Pose (2018).
His film credits include Varsity Blues (1998), Texas Rangers (2001), The Rules of Attraction (2002), Formosa Betrayed (2009), Labor Day (2013), and Bad Hair (2020).
Beyond acting, Van Der Beek has ventured into producing, writing, and podcasting, and has built a reputation for candid discussions about family, wellness, personal challenges, and the entertainment industry.
He married Kimberly Brook in 2010, and together they have six children. In 2024, Van Der Beek publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, leading him to use his platform to raise awareness, share his journey, and support others facing similar battles.
