‘Went Out Like A True Villain’: James Van Der Beek Goes Dark In Final Act Before Texas Death

A haunting new thriller is about to hit theaters and it carries an emotional weight no one expected. The Gates marks one of James Van Der Beek’s final big-screen performances before his heartbreaking death in Texas, and the newly released trailer is already stirring conversation for more reasons than one.

The movie leans hard into suspense, secrets, and small-community tension. Directed by John Burr, the story follows three college friends Derek, Kevin, and Tyon, played by Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, and Keith Powers, whose casual road trip takes a sharp, sinister turn. After attempting a shortcut through a gated community, they witness a murder. And from there? Let’s just say nothing is as holy or wholesome as it first appears.

James Van Der Beek plays Jacob, a respected local pastor with suspicious ties to the crime. On the surface, Jacob is a pillar of the community, sanctified, trusted, above reproach. But beneath that polished exterior lies something far more complicated. It’s a bold pivot for the Texas actor, who many fans still associate with his earnest, heart-on-his-sleeve roles from earlier in his career.

James Van Der Beek Final Movie Performance Before Texas Death Is Dark And Twisty

Here, he dives into morally murky waters, portraying what has been described as a flawed and amoral antagonist. And that’s what makes this performance hit differently. The trailer for The Gates dropped just one week after Van Der Beek’s death from colorectal cancer at age 48. The timing adds a layer of poignancy to every frame. Watching him command the screen with such intensity feels both thrilling and bittersweet.

Director John Burr reflected on working with the actor, telling Entertainment Weekly, “He brought experience and perspective to the role, and he built profound relationships with his fellow cast members and with the crew.” Burr also noted the duality Van Der Beek carried so effortlessly: “And while he was deeply dedicated to his performance as the flawed, amoral antagonist of our story, between scenes he effortlessly morphed back into the grounded, charming conversationalist he was at his core.”

What’s even more heartbreaking is that Van Der Beek had already completed filming before publicly revealing his diagnosis in November 2024. According to Burr, no one on set knew the extent of what he was facing.

Reactions To The Role

“None of us knew that he was already deep into his battle, and we were all shocked to learn with the rest of the world about his diagnosis,” the director shared. He added that they continued exchanging texts in the months that followed, saying, “His words were filled with energy and punctuated with exclamation points even as his health must have been in decline.”

“It’s sad seeing JVDB so soon but the trailer looks good,” one person wrote via X. “He left us with a scary movie. I love him so much,” said another. “Need this movie to get to # 1 so JVB can get any profit earning for his family,” a third person wrote. “JVDB went out like a true villain in this movie. Rest in Peace,” a fourth comment read.

It seems that fans are looking forward to seeing Van Der Beek’s last film role for many reasons. He is showing off his diverse acting skills, and remembering the actor that a generation fell in love with as a young teen heartthrob is bittersweet.

There’s something powerful about an actor choosing to explore darker, more complex material later in their career. It shows growth. It shows risk. And in James Van Der Beek’s case, it shows commitment even while privately fighting a battle in Texas most people around him didn’t know existed at the time.