James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek, born in Cheshire, CT, started his acting career at age 13. He pursued theater and the occasional appearance on television. He appeared on "Clarissa Explains It All" (Nickelodeon, 1990-1997) and "As the World Turns" (CBS, 1956-2010) landing film roles in "Angus" (1995) and "I Love You, I Love You Not" (1996) before his "Dawson's Creek" audition with Kevin Williamson in 1997. Williamson based "Dawson's Creek" on his own New England upbringing, casting Van Der Beek as a fictionalized version of himself. The show became a benchmark for coming-of-age dramas, despite controversy over its frank portrayal of adolescent sexuality. It focused on Dawson, Joey (Katie Holmes), Pacey (Joshua Jackson), and Jen (Michelle Williams), captivating audiences and making its stars magazine regulars. Van Der Beek was named one of People's "Most Beautiful People" in the first year. Van Der Beek starred in "Varsity Blues" (1999), a box office success, and also appeared in "Rules of Attraction" (2002) and "Texas Rangers" (2001). He embraced his Dawson persona in comedies like "Scary Movie" (2000) and "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001). After "Dawson's Creek" ended in 2003, he returned to theater, but felt burnt out and took a break from acting. His return to the spotlight saw him earn roles including "Ugly Betty," (ABC, 2006-2010), "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 2005-14), "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005-2020; Paramount+ (2022-) and the Lifetime movie "Taken In Broad Daylight" (2009). He also had a recurring role on "One Tree Hill" (The WB, 2003-06) and top-billed the miniseries "The Storm" (NBC, 2009). His performance in the feature film "Formosa Betrayed" (2010) earned him a Best Actor award at the San Diego Film Festival. Later, he joined the NBC medical drama "Mercy" (2009-10) then played himself in "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (ABC, 2012-13), which, despite a cult following, was canceled. He appeared in "Labor Day" (2013) and led the short-lived sitcom "Friends With Better Lives" (CBS, 2014) before co-starring opposite Patricia Arquette in "CSI: Cyber" (CBS, 2015-16). Van Der Beek went all out during season 28 of "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC, 2019-) where he and his partner Emma Slater secured 5th place. In August of 2023, Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has since become an advocate for early detection through colon cancer screening.