An autopsy will not be performed James Van Der Beek after his death.
The Travis County Coroner’s Office confirmed this Us Weekly that no report will be drawn up after Van Der Beek’s death at the age of 48. The actor battled stage III colorectal cancer in the months leading up to his death.
Van Der Beek revealed this in November 2024 was undergoing treatment.
“I have been dealing privately with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my amazing family,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “There are reasons for optimism and I feel good.”
James Van Der Beek was candid about his battle with colorectal cancer before his death in 2026. “Every year, approximately 2 billion people around the world receive this diagnosis. And I’m one of them,” the Dawson’s Creek alum shared in an Instagram post at the time, noting that he was “in a good place and feeling (…)
Before his death, Van Der Beek shared one update on his battle with cancer.
“I feel a little bit better every month. It takes more — more patience, more discipline. More strength than I knew I had. I knew I was strong, I didn’t know I was this strong,” she told the Today show in December 2025. “I don’t think I knew what slowing down was before … to really look at everything I eat, everything I put in my body.”
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of Van Der Beek’s cause of death and why it won’t be covered in an autopsy report.
Why will there be no autopsy report on James Van Der Beek?
Since James Van Der Beek was previously diagnosed with cancer, an autopsy is not required. An autopsy is required by a medical examiner or coroner to determine the cause and manner of death. In the event that a death is not sudden or suspicious, families may choose not to participate, unless legally ordered to do so by the authorities.
What has James Van Der Beek’s family said about his sudden death?
James Van Der Beek was pronounced dead in the early hours of Wednesday, February 11. when the medical examiner was called consultation by a medical professional.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning,” read a statement from Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek. “He met his last days with courage, faith and grace.”
Kimberly, 43, who shared children Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, with Van Der Beek, reflected on her husband’s death, adding: “There is so much to share about his wishes, love of humanity, the holy time will come. peaceful privacy as we mourn our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend”.
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or rectum and is detected through regular screening such as colonoscopies. Symptoms include changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss.
“Each year, approximately 2 billion people worldwide receive this diagnosis. And I am one of them,” James Van Der Beek previously shared in an Instagram post.
Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. The year began with the death of Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford at age 46. On January 11, the famous composer Guy Moon died at the age of 63. Days later, Grammy-nominated musician John Forté was found dead at the age of 50.
How did James Van Der Beek approach his battle with cancer before his death?
James Van Der Beek told People in November 2024 than a colonoscopy a year earlier led to his diagnosis, saying, “As I was coming out of the fog, the gastroenterologist said in his nicest bedside manner, ‘It’s cancer.’ And I think I went into a bit of a shock.”
Van Der Beek compared having cancer to having a “full-time job” because of the need to schedule appointments, track test results and deal with insurance.
“I didn’t really feel like this was going to end for me. I really felt like, ‘This is going to be the biggest reorientation of my life. I will make changes that I would never have made otherwise that I will look back on in a year, five years, 30 years from now and say, ‘Thank God that happened,'” he added. “And that’s how I was about 90 percent of the time. And then 10 percent of the time, I was a terrified, crying mess.”
When was the last appearance of James Van Der Beek before his death?
James Van Der Beek
Us WeeklyAfter skipping the live reading of the Dawson’s Creek pilot in September 2025 at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City, James Van Der Beek made a virtual appearance in a pre-recorded message that he was concerned about his weight loss.
“I had lost so much weight because of the stomach virus,” she told Today a month later about how her change in appearance “wasn’t related to cancer,” adding: “Even though with cancer, everything is like, ‘Why don’t we just get over this stomach virus?’