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James Van Der Beek

Highest Rated: 96% Castle in the Sky (1986)

Lowest Rated: 0% Stolen (2009)

Birthday: Mar 8, 1977

Birthplace: Cheshire, Connecticut, USA

James Van Der Beek, born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, CT, started his acting career at age 13. He pursued theater and the occasional appearance on television. He appeared on "Clarissa Explains It All" (Nickelodeon, 1990-1997) and "As the World Turns" (CBS, 1956-2010) landing film roles in "Angus" (1995) and "I Love You, I Love You Not" (1996) before his "Dawson's Creek" audition with Kevin Williamson in 1997. Williamson based "Dawson's Creek" on his own New England upbringing, casting Van Der Beek as a fictionalized version of himself. The show became a benchmark for coming-of-age dramas, despite controversy over its frank portrayal of adolescent sexuality. It focused on Dawson, Joey (Katie Holmes), Pacey (Joshua Jackson), and Jen (Michelle Williams), captivating audiences and making its stars magazine regulars. Van Der Beek was named one of People's "Most Beautiful People" in the first year. Van Der Beek starred in "Varsity Blues" (1999), a box office success, and also appeared in "Rules of Attraction" (2002) and "Texas Rangers" (2001). He embraced his Dawson persona in comedies like "Scary Movie" (2000) and "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001). After "Dawson's Creek" ended in 2003, he returned to theater, but felt burnt out and took a break from acting. His return to the spotlight saw him earn roles including "Ugly Betty," (ABC, 2006-2010), "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 2005-14), "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005-2020; Paramount+ (2022-) and the Lifetime movie "Taken In Broad Daylight" (2009). He also had a recurring role on "One Tree Hill" (The WB, 2003-06) and top-billed the miniseries "The Storm" (NBC, 2009). His performance in the feature film "Formosa Betrayed" (2010) earned him a Best Actor award at the San Diego Film Festival. Later, he joined the NBC medical drama "Mercy" (2009-10) then played himself in "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (ABC, 2012-13), which, despite a cult following, was canceled. He appeared in "Labor Day" (2013) and led the short-lived sitcom "Friends With Better Lives" (CBS, 2014) before co-starring opposite Patricia Arquette in "CSI: Cyber" (CBS, 2015-16). Van Der Beek went all out during season 28 of "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC, 2019-) where he and his partner Emma Slater secured 5th place. In August of 2023, Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has since become an advocate for early detection through colon cancer screening.

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Highest-Rated Movies

96% 91% Castle in the Sky Watchlist
67% 69% Angus
Watchlist
67% 93% Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Watchlist 62% 40% Bad Hair Watchlist 46% 76% Varsity Blues Watchlist 45% 71% The Rules of Attraction Watchlist
40% 40% I Love You, I Love You Not
Watchlist
40% 37% Standing Still
Watchlist
34% 54% Labor Day
Watchlist
33% 55% Formosa Betrayed
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies TV Shows
The Real Full Monty 2024 Self Sidelined: The QB and Me 2024 Actor Bad Hair 62% 40% 2020 Grant Madison Actor Jay and Silent Bob Reboot 67% 93% 2019 Self Labor Day 34% 54% 2013 Officer Treadwell Actor Backwards 28% 52% 2012 Geoff Actor Jodi Picoult's Salem Falls 71% 2011 Jack McBradden Actor The Big Bang 19% 25% 2010 Adam Nova Actor Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle 60% 2009 Seth Webster Actor Stolen 0% 39% 2009 Diploma Actor Formosa Betrayed 33% 55% 2009 Jake Kelly Actor Taken in Broad Daylight 35% 2009 Tony Zappa Actor The storm 2009 Actor Final Draft 15% 2007 Paul Twist Actor Eye of the Beast 11% 2007 Dan Leland Actor Danny Roane: First Time Director 27% 2006 Self Clive Barker's The Plague 17% 2006 Tom Russell Actor Standing Still 40% 37% 2005 Simon Actor The Rules of Attraction 45% 71% 2002 Sean Bateman Actor Texas Rangers 2% 29% 2001 Lincoln Rogers Dunnison Actor Varsity Blues 46% 76% 1999 Jonathon "Mox" Moxon Actor Harvest 29% 1999 James Peterson Actor I Love You, I Love You Not 40% 40% 1997 Tony Actor Angus 67% 69% 1995 Rick Sandford Actor Castle in the Sky 96% 91% 1986 Pazu Voice
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