James Van Der Beek’s tragic death makes him latest premature passing linked to 1999 film Varsity Blues

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The recent death of James Van Der Beek at age 48 is the latest in a series of early deaths among the cast of the 1999 film Varsity Blues, leading many online to wonder if there’s a pattern behind these tragedies.

People online are talking about a string of tragic events involving the cast of the movie ‘Varsity Blues.’ One user commented that the film seems cursed, while another pointed out that three of the five main actors have sadly passed away before the age of 50.

The movie, released in January 1999, starred Van Der Beek as Jon Moxon, a second-string high school quarterback in a fanatical football town in West Texas.

After the starting quarterback, Lance Harbor (played by Paul Walker), is seriously injured during a game, Moxon steps in as the new starter. This happens when Billy Bob (played by Ron Lester), an offensive lineman, collapses from exhaustion on the field.

The movie’s plot centered around Moxon’s conflict with Coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight), a ruthless coach who prioritized winning over the well-being of his players.

I absolutely loved this movie! It was a huge hit when it came out – I remember reading that it made over $54 million around the world, according to Box Office Mojo. And the cast was fantastic – Ali Larter, Amy Smart, Scott Caan, and even Jesse Plemons were all in it! It’s still one of my favorites.

As a long-time follower of the cast, it’s heartbreaking to see another member, Van Der Beek, pass away too soon. It’s a really sad pattern, and the Daily Mail is highlighting this tragic trend of relatively young deaths among the people involved with the movie.

 

James Van Der Beek

When Van Der Beek landed the main role of Moxon in the late 1990s, he was already very well-known from his hit show, Dawson’s Creek.

Roger Ebert, the famous film critic, praised Van Der Beek as both believable and charming, and his role as the unexpected high school hero earned him several awards.

He won an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance in 1999, and also a Teen Choice Award for his breakout role that same year.

Actor James Van Der Beek, a father of six, revealed in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023. His wife, Kimberly, is 44 years old.

That month, he started selling signed football jerseys featuring his character from the movie, hoping to raise funds for expensive cancer care in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary.

He announced on Instagram that he’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of ‘Varsity Blues’ by releasing a limited number of #4 jerseys signed by him personally.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m deeply committed to giving back. That’s why I’ve decided to donate 100% of the money I earn – after covering my costs – to help families facing the financial hardships that often come with cancer. This is a cause very close to my heart, as my own family has also been affected, and I want to do everything I can to support others going through similar challenges.

Kimberly Van Der Beek shared that her husband, the actor, faced his last days with courage, faith, and grace, as fans and friends shared tributes to him.

 

Paul Walker 

In the movie, Paul Walker portrayed Lance Harbor, the team’s starting quarterback. He gets seriously injured because Coach Kilmer carelessly plays him and other players even when they’re hurt.

After Harbor is injured, his girlfriend Darcy breaks up with him. She then attempts to flirt with Moxon in a now-famous scene involving a bikini made of whipped cream, which later became a widely shared internet meme.

Paul Walker, best known for his role as Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious movies, died in a car accident on November 30, 2013. He was 40 years old, and his friend Roger Rodas, who was driving, also died in the crash near Valencia, California.

Following the unexpected death of his colleague, Van Der Beek shared a series of posts on social media to honor and remember them.

Following Paul Walker’s death, James Van Der Beek expressed his condolences on social media, saying his thoughts were with Walker’s loved ones, particularly his daughter. He described feeling deeply saddened and heartbroken, as reported by E! News.

Honestly, thinking about Paul still gets me right here. He just glowed, you know? It wasn’t even something he tried to do, he just… had it. That special something. It’s impossible to describe, but everyone felt it. I miss him so much. #rippaulwalker #TeamPW

Several weeks later, Van Der Beek shared some things from the movie that reminded him of Paul Walker and brought back strong feelings.

He shared a throwback post in December 2013, saying he found a poster in storage that almost made him cry, and tagged Paul Walker.

 

Ron Lester 

Ron Lester portrayed Billy Bob, an offensive lineman in the film who endured concussions and mistreatment from his coach. This challenging role allowed Lester to demonstrate his acting ability in a powerful scene with Van Der Beek.

Lester later parodied Billy Bob Thornton’s character by playing Reggie Ray in the 2001 comedy, Not Another Teen Movie.

Lester passed away in June 2016 at a Dallas hospital due to kidney and liver failure. He was 45 years old.

Prior to his passing, the actor had been hospitalized for four months. 

He died while with his fiancee, Jennifer Worland, just a month after they shared the news of their engagement.

Van Der Beek at the time took to Twitter to praise Lester for his kindness and generosity.

Van Der Beek shared his sadness over the passing of Ron Lester, describing him as a kind and generous person. He explained that Lester’s warm personality was perfectly reflected in his character, Billy Bob, and fondly remembered him as a true friend.

Van Der Beek fondly remembered Ron Lester’s incredible work ethic on set, saying he was fully committed to every single take, even when he wasn’t the focus of the camera. He described Lester as someone truly special and generous.

 

Joe Pichler 

Joe Pichler played Kyle, the younger brother of Moxon, in the movie. His character was a funny contrast to the football obsession, as he rebelled against it to create his own youth group.

The child actor racked up a number of credits in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The selection featured movies like Beethoven’s 3rd and 4th, as well as The Fan, and television series including Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Touched by an Angel.

Despite a thriving career, he returned to Washington state in 2002 at his mother’s urging and completed his high school education at Bremerton High three years later.

It’s been 20 years since the actor vanished. He was 18 years old at the time and was last seen or heard from on January 5th, 2006.

Pichler’s last known contact was a phone call to a friend at 4 a.m. He then abandoned his 2005 Toyota Corolla in his hometown of Bremerton, Washington.

Pichler left a two-page note in his car, filled with poems and thoughts about his life, specifically his regret over not being a better brother.

Detective Robbie Davis initially stated to the Associated Press that they didn’t believe a crime had occurred. Although there were indications of possible self-inflicted injury, investigators found no proof to confirm this.

Davis stated that while the evidence suggests it may have been a suicide, they haven’t confirmed that yet.

In 2006, Pichler’s brothers and sisters told The Kitsap Sun they didn’t believe he had died by suicide.

Shawna, Pichler’s sister, believes he’s likely staying away because he’s ashamed. While she acknowledges the possibility of something bad happening, she doesn’t think he would take his own life.

Said his brother Matthew: ‘He left that note saying that he wanted to start over.’

In 2011, five years after her son, Pichler, went missing, Kathy expressed her disappointment with how local authorities handled the investigation. She was frustrated with the way events unfolded after his disappearance.

I just know Joseph didn’t run away. That’s the one thing I’m absolutely certain of, even after all this time. It’s been almost six years now, and we still don’t have any answers. It’s just… agonizing. I wrote about it for the Surviving Parents Coalition, trying to make sense of it all, but honestly, it feels hopeless sometimes.

Ever since Joseph went missing, I’ve been dedicated to raising awareness about the growing problem of missing persons in our country. It’s also incredibly difficult to cope with each day not knowing where he is.

She explained that she’s still searching for meaning after her son went missing. Finding a positive side to her grief has only come through helping other parents facing similar tragedies. She truly understands their pain and now dedicates herself to preventing others from experiencing the same loss, working towards a future where fewer families have to endure such heartbreak.

Pichler is still classified as a missing person.

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2026-02-12 17:07