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His career had long been tied to a particular era of American popular culture, but in recent years he had also become more open about the pressures of family life, illness and work. Kevin Williamson, the creator of Dawson’s Creek, said after Van Der Beek’s death that the two had reconnected in a “very special” way in the years before he died, while his wife Kimberly announced his death on Instagram and described the courage he showed through his illness. The circumstances of his death, and the fact that it followed months of public discussion about the rising incidence of colorectal cancer in younger adults, meant that for many viewers he was not a marginal figure at all, but someone whose absence from the telecast felt immediate and jarring.
Dane’s omission drew a similar reaction, though the debate around his career also revived a familiar distinction between television fame and film recognition. Dane died on 19 February at the age of 53 after a battle with ALS, nearly a year after publicly confirming his diagnosis. He told People in April 2025, “I have been diagnosed with ALS,” adding that he was grateful to have his family beside him as they faced what he called “this next chapter.” While he was most widely known for Grey’s Anatomy and more recently Euphoria, his film work included X-Men: The Last Stand, Marley & Me, Valentine’s Day, Burlesque, Bad Boys: Ride or Die and other titles across two decades. For supporters, that was more than enough to justify a place in the Academy’s on-air memorial.
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