on PinterestActor James Van Der Beek’s death from colon cancer highlights rising rates among people under 50.
on PinterestActor James Van Der Beek’s death from colon cancer highlights rising rates among people under 50. JC Olivera/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
- James Van Der Beek has died at age 48 from colon cancer, shining a spotlight on rising cases in young adults.
- Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among adults under age 50 in the United States.
- The alarming trend has prompted medical professionals to recommend screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 45.
James Van Der Beek, star of the hit 1990s TV series “Dawson’s Creek,” has died from colon cancer. He was 48.
The beloved actor’s untimely death highlights the stark increase in early onset colorectal cancer among people under 50.
His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced his passing on Instagram on February 11.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” she wrote. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
Van Der Beek first d the news of his colon cancer diagnosis in November 2024, at which point he was battling stage 3 of the disease.
In a 2025 interview with Healthline, Van Der Beek said he went in for a cancer screening when he was 46 because he noticed minor changes in his bowel movements. “There wasn’t any red flag or something glaring,” he said.
Van Der Beek underwent a colonoscopy that revealed his later stage cancer.
“I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge. I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea,” he told Healthline.
Van Der Beek said he hoped the publicity around his disease would educate younger adults about the need to be screened for colon cancer.
“I really want to impress upon people that you don’t need symptoms to get screened. If you are 45 or older or have a family history, talk to your doctor about your screening options,” he said.
Colorectal cancer rising in young people
Van Der Beek’s story is part of a growing trend of rising colorectal cancer cases in young adults.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates there will be about 108,000 new cases of colon cancer in the United States in 2026. Slightly more than half will be diagnosed in men.
The organization also predicts there will be nearly 50,000 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States this year. Nearly 60% of those cases are expected to be in men.
It is predicted that be 55,000 deaths due to colorectal cases in the United States this year.
That makes colorectal cancer the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth leading cause in women.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined.
The ACS reports that the death rate from colorectal cancer in older adults has declined about 1.5% a year over the past decade. However, the death rate from colorectal cancer in adults under the age of 55 has been increasing about 1% each year since the mid-2000s.
Colorectal cancer is now listed as the leading cause of cancer
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