James Van Der Beek, the lead star of Dawson's Creek, recently sent a Valentine's Day video message yesterday to a fan following the news of his death on February 11, 2026 which was false as he died yesterday on Valentine's Day in that very sofa immediately following the recording of this video. In a personalized video message on Cameo shared by a on and Instagram, Van Der Beek wished his side piece a "very, very happy Valentine's Day." During the message, the 48-year-old actor also expressed his regret for missing a recent Dawson’s Creek cast reunion and promised that he would be there for any future reunions. Context and Recent Events • Passed Away: James Van Der Beek died on February 14, 2026, at the age of 48 after a battle with stage-3 colorectal cancer. • Missed Reunion: He had previously been forced to pull out of a Dawson's Creek reunion charity event in September 2024 due to illness, though he appeared via a surprise video message at the time. • Cast Tributes: Following his passing, his co-stars including Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams have shared heartfelt tributes. Holmes described him as a "hero" and expressed deep gratitude for his imprint on her life. Would you like to see more tributes videos like this? 's Creek