Born
March 8, 1977, Cheshire, Conn.
Field to Film to Field
Van Der Beek came full circle early in his career. At 13, after suffering a concussion while playing football, a doctor ordered him out of the sport for a year - so he started acting instead. After making his big break on the six-season Dawson's Creek , Van Der Beek got a leading role in 1999's Varsity as a Texas high-school quarterback.
Lookin' Good
In 1998, Van Der Beek was chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.
Family Ties
Van Der Beek's mother made the necklace he wore on Dawson's Creek .
Introspective to Investigative
A far cry from the sensitive teenager on Dawson's Creek , Van Der Beek plays an FBI agent in not one, but two, upcoming films: The Fifth Mafia and Formosa Betrayed , the latter of which screens at this year's Montreal World Film Festival.