Alexander Ludwig, who achieved world fame on Thursday thanks to his great performance in the popular TV series ‘Vikings’, together with thousands of people paid tribute to James Van Der Beek, who died at the age of 48.
Ludwig, best known for his performance as Ragnar’s son, Bjorn Lothbrok, took to Instagram Stories to share the video of the deceased that James Van Der Beek posted to Instagram on his 48th birthday last year.
He shared the video with the caption: “This man was truly special. My sincere love to the family.”
James Van Der Beek, the star of the 1990s teen drama “Dawson’s Creek,” died Wednesday at the age of 48 after a battle with cancer, his wife announced on social media.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He spent his final days with courage, faith and grace,” his wife Kimberly wrote on Instagram.
Fans and fellow actors shared tributes on social media, remembering the influence he had on their lives and careers.
“While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a tremendous loss not only for your family but for the world,” Sarah Michelle Gellar wrote on social media.
A GoFundMe was launched to raise $500,000 to support Van Der Beek’s widow and six children. It raised over $200,000 within an hour of launch.
In 2024, Van Der Beek announced his diagnosis of colorectal cancer after it was discovered during a routine colonoscopy the year before.
“I have been dealing with this privately until now, getting the treatment and dialing in my overall health with more focus than ever before,” he wrote on social media that year.
Van Der Beek continued to document his battle with cancer on social media until his death.
A native of Connecticut, Van Der Beek got his breakout role in the 1990s as Dawson Leery in “Dawson’s Creek,” alongside Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes. The show revolved around the love triangle between Leery, a wannabe filmmaker and hopeless romantic, and two of his best friends Joey Potter (Holmes) and Pacey Witter (Jackson).
“These characters speak very honestly about everything that 15-year-olds face every day – relationships, the opposite sex, parents, school, dreams, ambitions,” Van Der Beek said on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee in 1998, when the show premiered.
He continued to play the role, which established him as a teen heartthrob in the early 2000s, until the show ended in 2003.
Outside of Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek had credits in more than 60 films and television shows. Notable film roles include quarterback Mox in “Varsity Blues” in 1999 and drug dealer Sean Bateman in “The Rules of Attraction” in 2002.
