James Van Der Beek - Biography

Who is James Van Der Beek?

James Van Der Beek is an actor by profession and American by nationality. He is best known for starring as Dawson Leery in TV series Dawson's Creek.

James Van Der Beek – Bio, Age, Parents, Siblings

James Van Der Beek’s birth took place on 8 March 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, USA. He was born as James David Van Der Beek Jr. to mother Melinda Van Der Beek, a former Broadway dancer and gymnastics teacher and father James William Van Der Beek, a cellular phone company executive and former professional baseball pitcher. 

He is not the only child of his parents and has two younger siblings- sister Juliana Van Der Beek and brother Jared Van Der Beek.

young James Van Der Beek with his younger siblings (Instagram)

Education, Ethnicity

For education, James Van Der Beek attended Cheshire Academy and went on to study at Drew University on an academic scholarship. But he dropped out to pursue a career in acting.

His ethnicity includes Dutch, German, English.

James Van Der Beek – Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Divorce

James Van Der Beek married his longtime girlfriend Heather McComb on 5 July 2003. They were married until their separation, followed by divorce on 3 June 2010. 

He went on to date and marry business consultant Kimberly Brook on August 1, 2010. He and his wife have five children together- four daughters and a son. 

His daughters are named Olivia Van Der Beek (born September 25, 2010), Emilia Van Der Beek (born March 23, 2016), Annabel Leah Van Der Beek (born January 25, 2014), Gwendolyn Van Der Beek (born June 15, 2018) and his son Joshua Van Der Beek (born March 13, 2012). 

Currently, the married couple is living without rumors of extra-marital affairs or divorce.

Also read: Mary-Margaret Humes - Actress of Dawson's Creek 

James Van Der Beek – Career

Early Career

James Van Der Beek was 15 years old when he asked his mother to take him to New York City so that he could get an agent. A year later, in 1993, he made his professional debut off-Broadway in Edward Albee's play Finding the Sun. 

Van Der Beek continued to portray minor roles in films Angus (1995), I Love You, I Love You Not (1996) and in TV series As the World Turns (1995). His breakthrough role came in 1998 with the series Dawson's Creek as Dawson Leery and in the 2000 film Varsity Blues.

Series, Films

Over the years, James Van Der Beek has starred in films Texas Rangers (2001), The Rules of Attraction (2002), The Plague (2006), Stolen (2009), Labor Day (2013), Power/Rangers (2015), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019).

He has also portrayed roles in TV series Criminal Minds (2007), One Tree Hill (2008-2009), Mercy (2010), Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012-2013), Friends with Better Lives (2014), Vampirina (2017-present). Van Der Beek competed in the season 28 of Dancing with the Stars.

Also read: Sasha Alexander - Actress of Dawson's Creek 

Co-stars

James Van Der Beek starred in Vampirina alongside Wanda Sykes, Mitchell Whitfield, Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell.

James Van Der Beek – Awards, Nominations

James Van Der Beek has been nominated for 3 Teen Choice Awards, Blockbuster Entertainment Awards amd has won 2 MTV Movie Awards, 1 Teen Choice Awards, 1 San Diego Film Festival, 1 NewNowNext Awards.

James Van Der Beek – Net Worth, Salary

His net worth is estimated to be around $8 million while his annual salary is under review.

James Van Der Beek – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media, Van Der Beek is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram with almost a million followers. 

Also read: Ben Gerrard - Actor of Wolf Creek 2