James Van Der Beek Dealt With Crushing Tax Debt During Final Years of His Life

A shocking financial detail has emerged following the tragic passing of Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek, revealing that the actor navigated a significant six-figure tax burden just years before his cancer diagnosis.

TMZ reports that Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, were hit with a substantial federal tax lien in late 2021. The Internal Revenue Service indicated that the couple owed approximately $95,000 for the 2017 tax year and an additional $174,000 for 2019, bringing their total debt to over $269,000.

While the figures were daunting, the couple managed to resolve the situation relatively quickly. Records show that the debt was fully paid off, and the lien was officially released by April 2022. This financial struggle took place just before the actor began a much more grueling battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he eventually shared with the public in late 2024.

At the time he revealed his illness, Van Der Beek maintained a remarkably optimistic outlook despite the severity of the news. In the weeks leading up to his death on February 11, the family finalized the purchase of a $4 million estate in Texas.

The 34-acre property had previously been a rental for the family of eight, and a representative for the actor noted that close friends stepped in to assist with the down payment to ensure the family had a permanent home.

Following the news of his passing at age 48, the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. A GoFundMe campaign was established to support Kimberly and their six children with medical bills and ongoing living expenses.

As of mid-February, the fund has already surpassed the $2 million mark, reflecting the deep connection fans still feel toward the actor who defined a generation of television. Despite his health challenges, Van Der Beek remained active in the industry throughout his final years.

He recently appeared in a guest role on the Amazon Prime Video comedy series Overcompensating and took part in the Fox special The Real Full Monty to help raise awareness for cancer screenings. He also recently reprised his role as Leroy Lahey in the sequel Sidelined: The QB and Me, a project he expressed great joy in filming alongside rising stars like Noah Beck.

Before his passing, the actor was also attached to the high-profile Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, where he was set to play a mayoral candidate. Additionally, sources close to the star have revealed he was working on a deeply personal memoir that aimed to reflect on his journey from teen idol to fatherhood and his eventual health battle.

While the book remains unfinished, his legacy as a vocal advocate for early cancer detection continues to impact lives across the country. His final television appearance was a surprise cameo in the series finale of Walker, where he played a mysterious new neighbor—a role intended to lead into a major storyline about a “kooky” cult leader.

Though the series was ultimately not renewed, the role allowed him to once again showcase the self-aware, quirky humor that fans loved. From his iconic turn as Dawson Leery to his brave public battle with illness, Van Der Beek’s impact on Hollywood and his fans remains profound.

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