Where to Stream James Van Der Beek's Best Movies and TV, Including 'Dawson's Creek'
Tragically, beloved actor James Van Der Beek, known for playing relatable, nice guys, has passed away at the age of 48. Van Der Beek was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, and has been battling it ever since. He leaves behind six children and his wife, Kimberly Brook.
Without a doubt, Van Der Beek is most associated with the titular role in the era-defining teen drama, Dawson's Creek, which aired primarily on The WB. For younger Gen Xers and elder millennials, Dawson's Creek was a touchstone of introspection, longing, and what it means to for young men to become adults. For that contribution to pop culture alone, Van Der Beek's talent will be remembered forever.
Here's a quick guide to where to stream the best James Van Der Beek TV shows and movies.
Varsity Blues (1999)
The now-iconic film starred Van Der Beek in a tender, career-defining role. Varsity Blues is more than just a teen dramedy about football; it explores ambition in youth, and what happens when your high school glory days morph into real life.
Varsity Blues streams on Pluto TV.
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)
As anyone who was young-ish in the late 1990s can tell you, Dawson's Creek changed the way we thought about teen dramas on TV. While Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson are all brilliant in the show, Van Der Beek's Dawson was the beating heart of this show. It may have been corny, even for its time, but today, it's hard to imagine a world in which Dawson's Creek never existed.
All six seasons Dawson's Creekstream on Tubi.
Castle in the Sky (2003)
The English-language dub for the Hayao Miyazaki animated film Castle in the Sky featured an all-star cast. In addition to Anna Paquin and Mark Hamill, Van Der Beek lead this voice cast as the lead character, Pazu. Its one of Van Der Beek's most underrated performances, and a lovely, incredible animated film to revisit over and over again.
Castle in the Sky streams on HBO Max.
The Rules of Attraction (2002)
In a rare, darker turn, Van Der Beek played Sean Bateman, the brother of the titular character from American Psycho, Patrick Bateman. At the time The Rules of Attraction got mixed reviews, but looking back on it now, it truly demonstrated Van Der Beek's range, and is worth giving another chance, over two decades after it was released.
The Rules of Attractionstreams on Tubi.
CSI: Cyber (2015-2016)
Although it was a short-lived run, Van Der Beek starred alongside Patricia Arquette and Ted Danson in the underrated CSI spinoff, CSI: Cyber. As s Elijah Mundo, Van Der Beek proved he could connect his geekier side with something of a action-hero badass.