James Van Der Beek Has Passed. But What He Said Before He Died, We All Need To Hear

February 13, 2026

Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his role on Dawson's Creek, passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48 after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. He had been diagnosed in 2023 and publicly shared his diagnosis in 2024.

But in the days since his passing, it isn’t just his acting that people are remembering.

It’s his final message.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames)

Recorded on his birthday, Van Der Beek reflected on what he called the hardest year of his life.

He said that for most of his life, he defined himself by roles.

An actor.
Then a husband.
Then a father.

But when cancer came, those definitions felt stripped away.

And he was left with one question:

“What am I?”

The answer, he said, came quietly but clearly.

"I am worthy of God's love, simply because I exist. And if I am worthy of God's love shouldn't I be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you."

If the word God trips you up, he said, then simply say: “I am worthy of love.”

It’s a reminder that identity isn’t found in titles, achievements, or even health. Sometimes, it’s found in the simple truth that our worth was never something we had to earn.

And that message may be one of the most meaningful roles he ever played.