Dawson’s Creek Solid Reacts to James Van Der Beek’s Demise at Age 48

The Dawson’s Creek solid is mourning the dying of their costar James Van Der Beek following his dying at age 48.

Van Der Beek’s household confirmed on Wednesday, February 11, that the actor, who portrayed the titular character on the hit ‘90s teen drama, had died following a battle with colorectal most cancers.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek handed peacefully this morning. He met his last days with braveness, religion, and style,” James’ spouse, Kimberly Van Der Beekshared in a press release shared by way of his Instagram on the time. “There may be a lot to share concerning his needs, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. These days will come. For now we ask for peaceable privateness as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and buddy.”

Van Der Beek introduced his stage III colorectal most cancers in November 2024. His Capeside Crew — together with Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith and extra — got here collectively one 12 months later in September 2025 for a one-night solely Dawson’s Creek reunion to assist increase cash for F Most cancers and Van Der Beek, performing a reside studying of the present’s pilot on the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York Metropolis.

“James and I had been really speaking about (a reunion) again in April or Might. We had been doing a conference collectively out in, I feel it was Pittsburgh, and he had talked about that Michelle wished to do that and put it collectively,” Smith, 53, completely instructed Us Weekly in September 2025 about how the reunion first got here collectively. “So it’s Michelle’s child, so far as I’m conscious. She will get the credit score. And I’m simply glad she’s doing it, as a result of it’s going to be enjoyable to see all these guys. And after I was pitched, I’m like, ‘After all, I’m in. That is implausible.’ I imply, it helps, James.”

Whereas Van Der Beek was finally not in attendance for the occasionas he was pressured to drop out final minute on account of a abdomen flu, Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to learn the a part of Dawson in his absence. The reunion offered out in 12 minutes, with tickets priced from $199 to $1,200, elevating 1000’s of {dollars} for the trigger.

Dawson’s Creek ran on The WB from 1998 to 2003 and adopted Van Der Beek’s Dawson Leery as he navigated the ups and downs of teenagehood alongside his on-and-off love curiosity Joey Potter (Holmes), finest buddy Pacey Witter (Jackson) and mysterious new neighbor Jen Lindley (Williams). Smith, Meredith Monroe, Busy Philipps, John Wesley Shipp and Mary-Margaret Humes additionally starred.

Following his dying, the solid took to social media to honor the life of their longtime buddy. Maintain scrolling for each heartfelt tribute about Van Der Beek from the Dawson’s Creek solid:

Kerr Smith

“I’m so grateful for with the ability to name James a brother,” Kerr Smith, who portrayed Jack McPhee on seasons 2 by means of 6 of the present, wrote by way of Instagram. I’ll miss him deeply. Relaxation straightforward.”

Chad Michael Murray

“Sending love and light-weight to your lovely household,” Chad Michael Murraywho performed Charlie throughout Dawson’s Creek’s faculty years, wrote within the feedback part of James’ Instagram. “James was an enormous. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going by means of. His phrases, artwork and humanity impressed all of us- he impressed us to be higher in all methods. God bless you guys🙏.”

Busy Philipps

Philipps, who portrayed Joey’s roommate Audrey on Dawson’s Creekshared an emotional tribute by way of Instagram. “My coronary heart is deeply hurting for all of us as we speak…each one that knew James and beloved him, anybody who beloved his work or had the pleasure of assembly him, all of his expensive associates and neighborhood that surrounded him as he battled this sickness, particularly his mother and father and brother and sister,” she wrote alongside throwback pictures of the pair by means of the years. “However I’m profoundly heartbroken for his unbelievable spouse Kimberly and their six magical kids. There’s a go fund me for them to assist out and that i’ll put the hyperlink in my tales. James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he might be without end missed and that i don’t know what else to say. i’m simply so so unhappy. He was my buddy and that i beloved him and that i’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.❤️.”

Mary-Margaret Humes

Mary-Margaret Humes, who performed James’ mom on Dawson’s Creekissued a social media tribute in honor of her late costar on February 11.

“Hardly ever am I perplexed … as we speak could be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a tough battle towards all odds with such quiet energy and dignity,” Humes wrote by way of Instagram. “I’ll all the time love and admire you for that. Our final conversations … merely a number of days in the past … are without end sitting softly in my coronary heart for protected maintaining. To our prolonged Dawson’s Creek household of associates, please be respectful of our silences in the intervening time as Stunning Kimberly and household have requested for peaceable privateness for now.”

‘Dawson’s Creek’

The official Instagram web page for Dawson’s Creek issued a tribute following James’ dying at 48.

“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of James Van Der Beek,” the social media assertion learn. “His iconic portrayal of Dawson Leery helped outline a technology of tv for followers and continues to resonate with audiences as we speak. Our ideas are along with his household and family members.”

Sasha Alexander

Sasha Alexander performed Pacey Witter’s older sister, Gretchen Witter, on season 4 of Dawson’s Creek, who finally turns into Dawson’s girlfriend. “Simply heartbroken,” she wrote within the feedback part of Mary-Margaret Humes’ Instagram put up. “I’m so sorry for all of our losses. James was a fantastic soul and type human. Prayers for his entire household.”

Hal Ozsan

Hal Ozsan appeared on the ultimate season of Dawson’s Creek as Todd Automotive, a movie director mentor of James Van Der Beek’s character, Dawson.

“This morning my brother, James handed in his sleep. I wouldn’t have the phrases to precise the grief. There might be a James sized gap in my coronary heart for the remainder of my life and I’ll by no means meet his like once more,” Ozsan wrote by way of Instagram alongside a photograph of his former costar. “James… there are such a lot of issues I may say about you, brother, however the truest, is that you simply all the time lived your life heart-first in every little thing you probably did. Which is why, when the time got here, you left in a house that you simply constructed, surrounded by the love you made. We should always all be so fortunate. What a life. What a person. What a buddy. No notes, brother. No notes.”