In the month since Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek passed away, tributes have poured in from all corners of Hollywood to celebrate his life and career. Leaving this world at only 48 years old after a two-and-a-half-year battle with stage III colorectal cancer, Van Der Beek’s impact on film and television was immeasurable, as his charm and endearing personality made him a fan favorite for decades. Considering how many major names he shared the screen with during that time, the actor has gotten countless heartfelt messages honoring the legacy he left behind.
Many of those tributes have come from his co-stars on Dawson’s Creek, on which he starred for five years and six seasons as aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery. Van Der Beek was far from the only major name on this show, as future stars Katie Holmes (Batman Begins), Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain), and John Wesley Shipp (The Flash) helped the series succeed. The most recent tribute to Van Der Beek comes from another Dawson’s star, who opened up for the first time since the tragedy was made public.
Speaking with the Today show, Dawson’s Creek lead Joshua Jackson spoke publicly for the first time about the late James Van Der Beek’s death. Noting that he feels the pain “in a variety of different ways,” especially as a father, he made it clear that he is still processing the news as he looks back on their relationship. He also referred to himself as a footnote in everything Van Der Beek accomplished in life:
“I think it hits in a variety of different ways. For me as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague, so I think the process is ongoing. He and I shared this very amazing time…and it was formational for us. I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I’m really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life.”
Jackson heaped praise on Van Der Beek for being “a good man” and “a real man who showed up for his family.” Speaking about his partnership with AstraZeneca, he explained how he wants to make it a point for men to get themselves checked out at his age, wanting to place importance on staying healthy:
“He became what we used to just call a good man, a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father. Obviously, when James got his diagnosis, I’m thinking about a contemporary of mine going through something like this. When the AstraZeneca folks reached out, I also have a lifelong connection to hockey. Guys don’t like to talk about this. We don’t like to go to the doctor, we don’t like to deal with this stuff. And I know a lot of ways in your life, that stiff upper lip thing can be helpful, but in this, it’s not helpful at all.”
Both Van Der Beek and Jackson were credited with 128 appearances on Dawson’s Creek, with Jackson portraying Leery’s best friend, Pacey Witter. The two spent all six seasons working closely alongside each other, as Jackson’s tribute added to the countless messages from fellow celebrities paying tribute to what Van Der Beek accomplished in life.
- Birthdate
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March 8, 1977
- Birthplace
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Cheshire, Connecticut, USA
- Birthname
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James William Van Der Beek Jr.
