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James Van Der Beek
Biography
James Van Der Beek is a film, television and stage actor whose big break was playing the title character in “Dawson's Creek,” which ran for six seasons. Van Der Beek launched his acting career on the New York stage at age 16 in original works by Edward Albee and Lanford Wilson. He completed his Los Angeles stage debut at the Geffen Theater in Joanna Murray-Smith’s play “The Gift” in the spring of 2013.
Over the last 12 years, Van Der Beek’s television credits include starring in “Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23” as a demented, over-the-top version of himself, “Friends With Better Lives,” CRIMINAL MINDS and “How I Met Your Mother,” on the Network, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Franklin & Bash,” “Mercy,” “One Tree Hill,” “Medium,” “The Storm,” “Ugly Betty” and the television movie “Salem Falls.”
A multifaceted actor, Van Der Beek has done a variety of work on the big screen, including “Varsity Blues,” “Labor Day,” the cult classic “The Rules of Attraction” and the independent films “Backwards” and “Formosa Betrayed,” for which he won a Best Actor Award at the San Diego Film Festival in 2009. He also had memorable cameos in “Scary Movie” and “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.”
He’s had several hosting stints, including the “New Now Next” Awards on Logo and “Saturday Night Live.” He has popped up in comedy skits on “The Daily Show” and “Tosh.0.” Van Der Beek took over Funny or Die for “Van Der Week” in a series of videos for the popular website, including “Vandermemes,” and “DILF Khakis,” which garnered more than 2.4 million views in 2011. He also appeared in Ke$ha’s music video “Blow,” which has more than 49 million views on YouTube.
Born in Cheshire, Conn., Van Der Beek attended Cheshire Academy on a full academic scholarship, and studied English and Sociology on an academic scholarship at Drew University in New Jersey before leaving to pursue an acting career full-time.
Van Der Beek lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Kimberly, and their three children. His birthday is March 8. Follow him on Twitter at @vanderjames.
Over the last 12 years, Van Der Beek’s television credits include starring in “Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23” as a demented, over-the-top version of himself, “Friends With Better Lives,” CRIMINAL MINDS and “How I Met Your Mother,” on the Network, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Franklin & Bash,” “Mercy,” “One Tree Hill,” “Medium,” “The Storm,” “Ugly Betty” and the television movie “Salem Falls.”
A multifaceted actor, Van Der Beek has done a variety of work on the big screen, including “Varsity Blues,” “Labor Day,” the cult classic “The Rules of Attraction” and the independent films “Backwards” and “Formosa Betrayed,” for which he won a Best Actor Award at the San Diego Film Festival in 2009. He also had memorable cameos in “Scary Movie” and “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.”
He’s had several hosting stints, including the “New Now Next” Awards on Logo and “Saturday Night Live.” He has popped up in comedy skits on “The Daily Show” and “Tosh.0.” Van Der Beek took over Funny or Die for “Van Der Week” in a series of videos for the popular website, including “Vandermemes,” and “DILF Khakis,” which garnered more than 2.4 million views in 2011. He also appeared in Ke$ha’s music video “Blow,” which has more than 49 million views on YouTube.
Born in Cheshire, Conn., Van Der Beek attended Cheshire Academy on a full academic scholarship, and studied English and Sociology on an academic scholarship at Drew University in New Jersey before leaving to pursue an acting career full-time.
Van Der Beek lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Kimberly, and their three children. His birthday is March 8. Follow him on Twitter at @vanderjames.
