During his teen years, James attended Chesire Academy and after overcoming dyslexia he became an honor roll student. James was also an athlete and played on the school’s football team until he suffered from a concussion while playing.

His interest in acting began at the age of thirteen, when he played in the school performance of Grease as Danny Zuko. His passion for acting quickly began to take over and he began auditioning for roles in New York. By the time he reached sixteen Van Der Beek had landed a part in the off-Broadway play Finding the Sun. This performance ensued in a role in the play Shenandoah.

After high school, James was offered a scholarship to Drew University. He attended the school as an English major and his extra-curricular activities included singing in the a cappella group, 36 Madison Avenue. James never finished his degree; he left school to star in the television series Dawson’s Creek. However, he does still has plans to go back and finish.

His first film was Angus in 1995, which co-starred Kathy Bates and Charlie Talbert. James did not find massive success as a teen idol until 1998 when he landed the role of Dawson Leery on the WB television series, Dawson’s Creek. Other members of the cast included Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Kerr Smith, and Mary Beth Peil. The same year the show aired for the first time, Van Der Beek was voted a one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine. The show quickly became a massive success among the teenage audience and lasted until 2003.

His success with the show opened doors for James in film as well. In 1999, James starred in the film Varsity Blues. The talented young cast included Ali Larter, Amy Smart, Paul Walker, Scott Caan, Ron Lester, and Jon Voight and the film was considered a success. James went on to win an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male performance for his role in the film.

The young Van Der Beek has not seen that level of success again in a film. He starred in The Rules of Attraction in 2002 but the film bombed at the box office. Other than that, he has only had a few cameo appearances in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back in 2001 and Scary Movie 2001.

In 2003, James married actress Heather McComb. The couple resides in New York City and enjoys a quiet life together.

YUDDY