James Van Der Beek

Biography

James Van Der Beek (March 8, 1977 – February 11, 2026) was an American actor best known for his role as Dawson Leary on the television series Dawson's Creek.

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Criminal Minds

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Modern Family

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

One Tree Hill

All Movies (39)

• The Gates2026 · as Jacob
• Sidelined 2: Intercepted2025 · as Leroy Lahey
• Sidelined: The QB and Me2025 · as Leroy Lahey
• The Real Full Monty2024 · as Self
• Bad Hair2021 · as Grant Madison
• All-Time Favorite NFL Players Named by Celebrities, Players, and Coaches2020 · as Self
• The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU2020 · as Self
• Jay and Silent Bob Reboot2019 · as Self
• Downsizing2017 · as Anesthesiologist
• Labor Day2013 · as Officer Treadwell
• The Magic Bracelet2013 · as Joe
• Backwards2012 · as Geoff
• Salem Falls2011 · as Jack St. Bride
• The Big Bang2011 · as Adam Nova
• DILF Khakis2011 · as Self
• Van Der Week: Behind the Scenes2011 · as Self
• Vandermemes2011 · as Self
• Asshole for Hire2011 · as Self
• Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis2010 · as Sean Bateman
• Formosa Betrayed2010 · as Jake Kelly
• Mrs. Miracle2009 · as Seth Webster
• Taken in Broad Daylight2009 · as Tony Zappa
• Stolen2009 · as Diploma / Roggiani
• Eye of the Beast2007 · as Dan Leland
• Final Draft2007 · as Paul Twist
• Robot Chicken: Star Wars2007 · as Bush's Aide (voice) (archive sound)
• The Plague2006 · as Tom Russell
• Danny Roane: First Time Director2006 · as Self
• Standing Still2005 · as Simon
• Oh, What a Lovely Tea Party2004 · as Self
• Dawson's Creek - The Series Finale (Extended Cut)2003 · as Dawson Leery
• The Rules of Attraction2002 · as Sean Bateman
• Texas Rangers2001 · as Lincoln Rogers Dunnison
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back2001 · as James Van Der Beek (uncredited)
• Scary Movie2000 · as Dawson Leary (uncredited)
• Harvest1999 · as James Peterson
• Varsity Blues1999 · as Jonathan 'Mox' Moxon
• I Love You, I Love You Not1996 · as Tony
• Angus1995 · as Rick Sandford

All TV Shows (51)

• Overcompensating2025 · as Charlie
• The Jennifer Hudson Show2022 · as Self
• Fast Foodies2021 · as Self
• Walker2021 · as New Neighbour
• Home Movie: The Princess Bride2020 · as Prince Humperdinck
• Under A Rock with Tig Notaro2019 · as Self - Guest
• The Masked Singer2019 · as Self - Griffin
• POSE2018 · as Matt
• What the Fit2018 · as Self
• The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale2018 · as Self - Guest
• Sea Oak2017 · as Mr. Frendt
• Drop the Mic2017 · as Self
• Vampirina2017 · as Boris Hauntley (voice)
• What Would Diplo Do?2017 · as Diplo
• Room 1042017 · as Scott
• The $100,000 Pyramid2016 · as Self
• Match Game2016 · as Self - Panelist
• The Late Late Show with James Corden2015 · as Self
• CSI: Cyber2015 · as Elijah Mundo
• Friends with Better Lives2014 · as Will Stokes
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
• The Eric Andre Show2012 · as Self
• Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 232012 · as James Van Der Beek
• Franklin & Bash2011 · as Nathan
• Modern Family2009 · as Bo Johnson
• Mercy2009 · as Dr. Joe Briggs
• The Forgotten2009 · as Judd Shaw
• The Storm2009 · as Dr. Jonathan Kirk
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Free Radio2008 · as Self
• Ugly Betty2006 · as Luke Carnes
• Criminal Minds2005 · as Tobias Hankel
• How I Met Your Mother2005 · as Simon Tremblay
• Dancing with the Stars2005 · as Self - Contestant
• Medium2005 · as Dylan Hoyt
• The Soup2004 · as Self
• One Tree Hill2003 · as Adam Reese
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• CMT Music Awards2002 · as Self - Presenter
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent2001 · as Rex Tamlyn
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Sean Albert
• Teen Choice Awards1999 · as Self
• The Panel1998
• Dawson's Creek1998 · as Dawson Leery
• EP Daily1997
• The View1997 · as Self
• Aliens in the Family1996 · as Ethan
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992
• Clarissa Explains It All1991 · as Paulie
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host