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James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek

Actor · Died February 11, 2026, aged 48 · Cheshire, Connecticut, USA

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.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 8, 1977
Died
February 11, 2026 (aged 48)
From
Cheshire, Connecticut, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 59 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 45% in 30 days

What are James Van Der Beek's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Romance2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Romance movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
28%
Bonds
25%
Survival
19%
Morality
14%
Society
11%
Ideas
3%
Survival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 6 · Dark 7

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 9 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 20 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 20
Shadow
4 of 20
Shapeshifter
3 of 20
Ally
2 of 20
Mentor
2 of 20
Threshold guardian
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Hopeful
8
Warm
6
Melancholic
6
Romantic
4
Other
28

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet13
  • Ambiguous5
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Van Der Beek's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Van Der Beek's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

59 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 33 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Gates(2026)

    as Jacob

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Sidelined 2: Intercepted(2025)

    as Leroy Lahey

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Overcompensating(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Devil May Cry(2025)

    Show 1 episode · In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Sidelined: The QB and Me(2024)

    as Leroy Lahey

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bad Hair(2020)

    as Grant Madison

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Walker(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as New Neighbour

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Home Movie: The Princess Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Prince Humperdinck

  • Pose(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · as Matt

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Downsizing(2017)

    as Anesthesiologist

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Sea Oak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Frendt

  • Vampirina(2017)

    Show 147 episodes · as Boris Hauntley (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • What Would Diplo Do? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Diplo

  • Room 104(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Scott

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Cyber(2015)

    Show 31 episodes · as Elijah Mundo

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Friends with Better Lives(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · as Will Stokes

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Labor Day(2013)

    as Officer Treadwell

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Magic Bracelet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Joe

  • Backwards(2012)

    as Geoff

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23(2012)

    Show 18 episodes · as James Van Der Beek

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Salem Falls(2011)

    as Jack St. Bride

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Nathan

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Big Bang(2010)

    as Adam Nova

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Sean Bateman

  • Formosa Betrayed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Jake Kelly

  • Mrs. Miracle(2009)

    as Seth Webster

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Taken in Broad Daylight(2009)

    as Tony Zappa

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Stolen(2009)

    as Diploma / Roggiani

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 22 episodes · as Dr. Joe Briggs

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Bo Johnson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Forgotten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Judd Shaw

  • The Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Jonathan Kirk

  • Eye of the Beast(2007)

    as Dan Leland

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Final Draft(2007)

    as Paul Twist

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Robot Chicken: Star Wars(2007)

    as Bush's Aide (voice) (archive sound)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Luke Carnes

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Plague(2006)

    as Tom Russell

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tobias Hankel

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Simon Tremblay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dylan Hoyt

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Standing Still(2005)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • One Tree Hill(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Adam Reese

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • The Rules of Attraction(2002)

    as Sean Bateman

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Texas Rangers(2001)

    as Lincoln Rogers Dunnison

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Rex Tamlyn

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001)

    as James Van Der Beek

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Scary Movie(2000)

    as Dawson Leary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Sean Albert

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as James Peterson

  • Varsity Blues(1999)

    as Jonathan 'Mox' Moxon

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Panel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dawson's Creek(1998)

    Show 128 episodes · as Dawson Leery

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • EP Daily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I Love You, I Love You Not(1996)

    as Tony

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Aliens in the Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Ethan

  • TFI Friday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Angus(1995)

    as Rick Sandford

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Clarissa Explains It All(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Paulie

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1991 to 2026; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

Varsity Blues (1999)

$54M worldwide

Highest rated

Labor Day (2013)

Midcredits 75th

Most popular right now

Dawson's Creek (1998)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19912026

Peak 2008 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 14 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting58 of 59: 57 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score44thWriting1 of 59: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 59: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 59: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s12 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s17 · 17 acting · 1 crew2020s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 32% of 19 roles
950510

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do James Van Der Beek's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 30th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 44 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Vampirina (2017)

80th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Pose (2018)

Midcredits 97th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is James Van Der Beek's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles17–61 · median 34 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles35–74 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles35–83 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles37–79 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles16–60 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does James Van Der Beek work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Van Der Beek's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Justin Wu shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers