James Van Der Beek Add to My Celebs Age 35 Birthday Mar. 8th, 1977 Born in Cheshire, Connecticut, USA Height 6' 0"

James Van Der Beek's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Dawson's Creek Dawson Leery Apartment 23 James Van D… The Storm Dr. Jonatha…

Main Movie Roles 2007 - Final Draft 2002 - The Rules of Attraction 2001 - Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back 2001 - Texas Rangers 2000 - Scary Movie 1999 - Varsity Blues 1995 - Angus

NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB


BIOGRAPHY:

James William Van Der Beek, Jr. was born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, USA as the oldest of three children to father Jim Van Der Beek, a cellular-phone company executive and mother Melinda Van Der Beek, a gymnastics studio owner and former Broadway dancer. James has a brother named Jared who was born in 1979 and a sister named Juliana who was born in 1981. James started acting at 13 after suffering a concussion playing football that prevented him from playing for a year on doctor's orders. He landed the role of Danny Zuko in his school production of "Grease." After that, the acting bug sank in and the next three years he spent time doing local theater. Around 16, he and his mother went to New York City to find an agent and possible auditions. A year later, he was cast in an off-Broadway play called "Finding the Sun." After doing another play called "Shenandoah" in 1994, James received an academic scholarship to Drew University in NJ, where he was working towards obtaining a major in English with a minor in sociology and also at that time he won the role of Rick Sanford in the movie Angus (1995). In 1996, he won a very small supporting role in I Love You, I Love You Not (1996) which starred Claire Danes. After that film his acting career was at a dead end and he decided to continue with his schooling and eventually made the Dean's list. The college experience soon became old for James, so he took some time off to travel and when he returned he auditioned for a role in "Dawson's Creek" (1998). He won the lead in the show, and his life changed forever. Though James has taken a hiatus from his college studies to shoot the series, he still plans to finish his degree. He has also been seen starring in several hit films over the past couple of years like Varsity Blues (1999) and Texas Rangers (2001).


TRIVIA:

• Brother-in-law of 'Jennifer McComb (I)' (qv).
• There was a third story in _Storytelling (2001)_ (qv) with Van Der Beek as a college student realizing his sexuality, which was subsequently cut out of the film.
• He started acting because a concussion stopped him from playing football.
• Oddly, the literal translation of his Dutch surname means 'from the creek'.
• His favourite movie is _The Shawshank Redemption (1994)_ (qv).
• His hobbies are: playing the guitar, sleeping, staying with his friends and playing sports.
• Was an English major at Drew University before leaving school to do _"Dawson's Creek" (1998)_ (qv).
• Lives in New York City for most of the summer - when his show is on hiatus or when he is not shooting a film.

James Van Der Beek Photos

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