James Van Der Beek Roles: 7 TV Shows And Films To Stream Now

Posted on 12/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Following James Van Der Beek’s death at the age of 48, many of his fans are reflecting on his legacy of iconic TV shows and films

Although to most of us, James will be best remembered for playing Dawson Leery in the iconic Dawson’s Creek, the actor had a varied body of work on both the big and small screen .

To celebrate the star’s life, we’ve rounded up some of his most notable movie and TV performances that are available to stream now…

Dawson’s Creek

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic shows of the 1990s, Dawson’s Creek starred James in the lead role of Dawson Leery, following the character and his close-knit friendship group as they navigated young adulthood.

The show was a revolutionary depiction of teenage life, and set the template for many similar shows that came after in the years that followed, paving the way for so many of those iconic 90s and 2000s shows we all know and love.

Dawson’s Creek turned James into a global heartthrob, and also helped launch the careers of Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes.

Running for 122 episodes between 1998 and 2003, the show often lands on the best shows of all time, including on Entertainment Weekly’s New TV Classics list back in 2007.

All six seasons of Dawson’s Creek are now streaming on ITVX

One Tree Hill

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In 2008, James had a four-episode arc in One Tree Hill, a TV show that was frequently compared to Dawson’s Creek throughout its run.

The teen drama was set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, and initially followed the lives of two basketball-loving, loathario half-brothers, played by Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty.

James played Adam Reece, an eccentric film director hired to direct an ill-fated adaptation of Lucas’ novel.

The late performer was credited as a Special Guest Star for his work on One Tree Hill, and was the only non-recurring actor to achieve this during the show’s nine seasons.

All nine seasons of One Tree Hill are now streaming on ITVX

The Rules Of Attraction

James played the lead in the 2002 film adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis’ black comedy novella.

A spin-off of American Psycho, the movie followed three New Hampshire college students who become entangled in a love triangle.

James played Sean, Patrick Bateman’s younger brother, a drug dealer who becomes obsessed with Shannyn Sossaman’s character, yet is unaware he has caught the eye of her bisexual ex, played by Ian Somerhalder.

The film was met with a mixed critical reception, but it saw James finally shake the “boy next door” image that had stuck with him since Dawson’s Creek.

Stream The Rules Of Attraction on the BFI Player

How I Met Your Mother

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