"James Van Der Beek was one of the biggest stars of the late 1990s and early 2000s. His family still couldn't afford the cost of cancer. The actor, 48, best known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in the '90s hit Dawson's Creek, died Wednesday. Van Der Beek's passing comes a little more than a year after he announced on social media that he was battling colorectal cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2023."
"Despite Van Der Beek's successful career, which included hits like Varsity Blues (1999) and The Rules of Attraction (2002), as well as playing the lead role in a popular TV drama for six seasons, the actor still spent the final years of his life struggling financially. Last year, he teamed up with the auction house Propstore to sell his personal collection of memorabilia, wardrobe items, and set pieces from Dawson's Creek and his most notable films to raise money for his treatment."
James Van Der Beek, 48, died after battling colorectal cancer diagnosed in 2023. He gained fame as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek and appeared in films like Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction. His family struggled to afford cancer treatment despite his successful career. He partnered with auction house Propstore to sell personal memorabilia, wardrobe items, and set pieces to raise funds for treatment. The auction raised around $47,000. He said he had stored the items for years and recent unexpected life changes made it the right time to sell. A 2022 ACS CAN survey found more than 70% of respondents made significant lifestyle changes to afford care, and 51% went into medical debt.
Read at Fast Company
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