this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2026

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281

James Van Der Beek, the 'Dawson's Creek' star who later mocked his own hunky persona, has died at 48 (apnews.com)

submitted 3 days ago by RaoulDuke25@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/news@lemmy.world

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[–] Hatshepsut@lemmy.world 126 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

From his Wikipedia:

Illness and death

On August 31, 2023, Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer; he did not make his diagnosis public until November 2024. He stated that he had "been privately dealing with this diagnosis and [has] been taking steps to resolve it" with the support of his family.[42] In November 2025, he announced that he would be auctioning items from Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues to help cover costs associated with his cancer treatment.[43]

Van Der Beek died on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48.[1][37]

Emphasis mine. Fuck cancer and fuck for-profit healthcare even more. RIP

[–] darkdemize@sh.itjust.works 77 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I think this ought to put it into perspective. This guy at one time was a very successful actor in movies and TV, granted he wasn't in much recently that I'm aware of. He was still estimated to have a net worth of several million dollars at the time of his death.

If he had to resort to selling his personal items to cover his cancer treatment, what hope do the rest of us have?

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago

I'm currently staying with my well-off aunt and uncle in southern California, because my uncle just had open heart surgery in January. It cost them (and insurance) $460,000 for his surgery.

My aunt was diagnosed with and beat breast cancer a couple years ago. One of her regular treatments that she still needs to go in for every week costs her $6,000.

It doesn't hurt that her parents were extremely wealthy and owned all kinds of land and property and left almost all of it to her and my uncle, but still.

[–] SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Probably cheaper to buy a residence permit in the EU via those Golden Visa investment programs some countries have. And just make use of their health care system. Though Van Der Beek could have been on a experimental drug, which wouldn't be covered in the EU anyway.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

cancer treatment are usually not covered, or only partially covered by your healthcare insurance, or whatever you are using. it almost always exceed what the insurance is willing to pay. several million can easily be gone over time. but if you have 10s or 100s of millions or even billions, you are fare much better.

its very expensive treatment.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 80 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Oh shit, that sucks.

He was hilarious in Don’t Trust the B. It takes a special type of person to make fun of themself that way.

That’s young, and he seemed cool. RIP.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

He’s also great in What Would Diplo Do?

[–] ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

What a mensch. One tiny example from Vanity Fair (here's the archive link):

While filming the movie [Varsity Blues] Van Der Beek said he asked his costar Jon Voight how he dealt with the constant attention and autograph seeking. “He said, ‘You have such a gift, and that is the gift of being able to make somebody very happy by doing something very simple. All you have to do is sign that paper, give them a little bit of time, look at them, talk to them, and you’ll make them happy. What a gift that is.’ And that made it click for me.”

Truly a good guy. Sorry to see him go.

[–] thejoker954@lemmy.world 54 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Cancer. Such a bitch it is.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago

And not a cool bitch like the one in apartment 23

[–] TipRing@lemmy.world 49 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Man, I am the same age and dodged a bullet a couple years back when I had a colonoscopy as part of a diagnosis for a different issue and they found a fast-growing pre-malignant polyp. The doc said for sure it would have been cancer within a year. I get checked every year now (until they tell me to stop, I guess).

Fuck cancer.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago

apparently your appendix can also develop cancer, but its very rare and different from colon, and happened to notable actors.

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 44 points 3 days ago (3 children)

get your colonoscopy and don't put it off even if you think you're healthy

[–] hoppolito@mander.xyz 9 points 3 days ago (3 children)

What’s generally a recommended age to get it at?

[–] cygnus@lemmy.ca 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

My doctor said 40 but YMMV

[–] darkdemize@sh.itjust.works 21 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I've always heard 45 unless you have a family history.

[–] Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Also in the context of colon cancer, ‘family history’ means earlier than their 60s. I had a close relative with colon cancer, but since she got it in her late 60s my doctor told me that basically it’s irrelevant in terms of screening schedules.

[–] the_tab_key@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

My father was diagnosed a couple years ago (still fighting it for better or worse) in his late 60s. My doctor said the same: since it was later in life, 45 is fine. Still makes me a bit nervous waiting though!

[–] Dultas@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah, that's what I've always heard as well. But I personally know 3 people that have been diagnosed before 45, one was in their 30s. Another died from it before their 45th. So it seems like it should be sooner.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Mine suggested I start at 20 but he'd also rub both my shoulders as he did it, so I didnt complain too much.

[–] lando55@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

How did he check your prostate if both his hands were on your shoulders

[–] aeration1217@lemmy.org 6 points 2 days ago

[–] insaneinthemembrane@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

It varies... You can see from the answers here. My doc said 50yo but you can get one if you want and then it's a matter of years between checks.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

usually starting mid 40ss, insurance or doctors may be resistance to even approve though.

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Well then. Glad I'm getting one soon. Tested for low iron and the doc said there could be something like internal bleeding or something so they want to check. Google, fwiw, says blood donation can lead to low iron and I donate double reds as often as I can. Hopefully they don't find anything, or they find something easily treatable.

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Does your blood center not test iron before taking a donation?

Every time I've donated, they took a lancet to one of my fingers for a drop of blood and checked how fast it sank in some sort of liquid.

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

It was low enough for me to be deferred once. They said I could take just a Flintstone vitamin daily for the week before my donation. I was doing that but also mentioned that to my doctor. The numbers I gave him then he said weren't concerning. My last visit was like a few weeks after my donation and I didn't take the vitamins afterwards.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

wonder if they were checking for protein, increase protein in the blood can indicate something more serious.

[–] skhayfa@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

No need for colonoscopy, just a poo test for initial screening.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

That test is is not very good

[–] lando55@lemmy.zip 45 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Rest well, champ. I've got good memories seeing you in the Bluntman and Chronic movie.

[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.world 26 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

"What's up with Pacey stealing Joey away from you? If I was you, I would have drowned his ass in the creek and shit." -Jay

RIP James

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

FUCK CANCER

[–] etchinghillside@reddthat.com 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I don't want to wait for our lives to be over

I want to know right now what will it be

I don't want to wait for our lives to be over

Will it be yes or will it be sorry?

[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago

Fuck 2026, its the year of butt cancer, I have a family member diagnosed with prostate cancer recently.

I hope Trump and friends get butt cancer.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Millennials be checking out early!

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

Colon cancer is actually on the rise in younger and younger people, and we don’t really know why yet. It used to be mostly an old people disease.

https://abcnews.com/Health/younger-americans-dying-colorectal-cancer/story?id=129629947