James Van Der Beek is remembered in tributes from co‑stars

James Van Der Beek, 48, died Wednesday and his family said he faced colorectal cancer; co‑stars and entertainment accounts posted tributes and highlighted a GoFundMe set up by his widow to help with expenses.

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for playing Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, has died. His family announced his passing on Instagram and said he "met his final days with courage, faith, and grace." He was 48 and had been receiving treatment for colorectal cancer; in recent months he participated in a reunion charity event and auctioned memorabilia related to the series. Reported details: - Van Der Beek died Wednesday morning at age 48, according to a family statement posted to Instagram. - The family described his final days as being met "with courage, faith, and grace." - He had been receiving treatment for colorectal cancer and had auctioned Dawson's Creek memorabilia to help cover treatment costs; his widow set up a GoFundMe that posts said was intended to help with family expenses. - Several co‑stars and entertainment accounts posted tributes, including Busy Philipps, Stacy Keibler, Chad Michael Murray, Sarah Michelle Gellar, the official Dawson's Creek and Sony accounts, and friends such as Ashton Kutcher and director Roger Avary. Summary: His death has been followed by public tributes from colleagues and official accounts and by public mention of the family's fundraising. Undetermined at this time.