Steven Spielberg Provides $25,000 To James Van Der Beek’s Household

Days after the passing of “Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beekmany have come ahead to supply financial help for the household he left. Certainly one of them is iconic director Steven Spielbergwho donated a big quantity.

The GoFundMe for the late actor’s household has surpassed its purpose in lower than two days, and donations nonetheless preserve pouring in from everywhere in the world.

On February 11, Van Der Beek handed away from his years-long battle with colorectal most cancers at 48 years previous. He’s survived by his spouse, Kimberly, and their six youngsters, ages 4 to fifteen.

A GoFundMe web page was set as much as help Van Der Beek’s household, asking for monetary help. “The prices of James’s medical care and the prolonged combat in opposition to most cancers have left the household out of funds. They’re working laborious to remain of their dwelling and to make sure the youngsters can proceed their training and preserve some stability throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the web page reads.

Many have responded to the decision, with the funds reaching greater than $1 million in a matter of hours. A type of who donated was Spielberg and his spouse, Kate Capshaw, who gave $25,000.

Spielberg is among the many prime contributors, alongside an nameless donor who donated $30,000.

Van Der Beek is most well-known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery within the TV collection “Dawson’s Creek.” Within the present, Dawson is an aspiring filmmaker who idolizes Spielberg, adorning his room with posters of the director’s movies, together with “Jurassic Park,” “Shut Encounters of the Third Sort,” and “Hook.”

In accordance with the present’s creator, Kevin Williamson, he needed to pen a letter asking permission from Spielberg to make use of the posters. “And I used to be like, ‘Please, Mr. Spielberg, you do not know me, however I used to be this child. I had this bed room. I had all of your posters in my bed room. Can I please current Dawson the way in which that he actually was?'” Williamson mentioned, per Leisure Weekly.

He heard again from the director, who kindly wrote, “You should utilize every thing.” His solely situation was to not point out his spouse or youngsters within the present.

In September 2025, the solid of “Dawson’s Creek” reunited greater than twenty years after the present’s last episode aired. Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams had been current, along with their former castmates, together with Busy Philipps, Meredith Monroe, and Kerr Smith.

Van Der Beek was noticeably absent resulting from an sickness, however he despatched a video message, saying, “I can not consider I do not get to hug my solid mates. I needed to face on that stage and thank each single individual on this theater for being right here tonight.”

The solid did a studying of the present’s pilot episode, and songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to fill Van Der Beek’s sneakers.

The reunion was a charity occasion held to lift funds for Van Der Beek and the non-profit group F Most cancers. As beforehand reported by The BlastVan Der Beek did not get residuals from the present resulting from a “dangerous” contract.

When “Dawson’s Creek” started, Dawson was a highschool pupil eager on turning into a filmmaker. Within the collection finale, six seasons later, audiences be taught that Dawson has develop into the author and government producer of the present “The Creek,” a collection based mostly on his life rising up in Capeside.

Throughout the reunion present, a brief video clip that Spielberg despatched was proven on the massive display. He had a couple of phrases for Van Der Beek, aka Dawson, saying, “Dawson, you made it. Possibly sometime, I’ll get to have a Dawson’s closet.”