James Van Der Beek life and biography

James Van Der Beek is an American television, film, and stage actor, known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in The WB series Dawson's Creek. He is also famous for his website, which includes Van Der Beek himself acting out famous internet memes.

Van Der Beek was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, the son of Melinda (née Weber), a former dancer and gymnastics studio manager, and James, Sr., a cellular phone company executive and former professional baseball pitcher. He has a brother, Jarod (born 1979) and a sister, Juliana (born 1981). He attended Norton Elementary School, Dodd Junior High School, and the Cheshire Academy.

At the age of 15, he asked his mother to take him into New York City to get an agent and try his hand professionally. He made his professional debut in the New York premiere of Edward Albee's play Finding the Sun at the Signature Theatre Company in which he played the role of "Fergus". The production, which was also directed by Albee, received good reviews. Aged 17, while still in high school, he performed in the musical Shenandoah at the Goodspeed Opera House, and made his feature film debut with a bit part as a bully in the teen-oriented 1995 film Angus. The following year, he shot a small role on the independent film I Love You, I Love You Not.

He attended Drew University, but dropped out to pursue acting. He performed at the Vineyard Theater in New York in Nicky Silver's play, My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine, and he played a supporting role in the independent film Cash Crop, which was originally shot in spring of 1997 and originally titled Harvest until released in 2001.

Filmography:

2007: Football Wives Criminal Minds
2009: Taken In Broad Daylight; Medium; Stolen; Formosa Betrayed; The Storm; The Forgotten

Awards and nominations:

2011: NEW NOW NEXT AWARDS
2009: San Diego Film Festival
1999: MTV Movie Awards
Best Breakthrough Male Performance
2001: Best Cameo in a Movie Scary Movie
1999: Teen Choice Awards Nominated TV Choice Actor

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