The news of James Van Der Beek's passing has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many of his former co-stars and friends taking to social media to pay their respects. As reported by The Guardian, Van Der Beek, who was best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the popular 90s TV show Dawson's Creek, died at the age of 48 after a long battle with bowel cancer.
Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter in the show, has shared a heartfelt handwritten letter to her late co-star, praising his bravery, compassion, and strength. In the letter, Holmes wrote: "Thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred – breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each others’ hearts are safe in their expression … ”
Van Der Beek's passing has also been mourned by the show's creator, Kevin Williamson, who shared his thoughts on Instagram, saying: "Several times today, from my heart, I’ve tried to form the words to express the beautiful brilliance of James and what his presence has meant to my life. But I am truly at a loss for words. I will have to trust that one day those words will come.”
Personal Tributes
Other co-stars, including Mary Margaret Humes, who played Dawson's mother, and Busy Philipps, who played Audrey, have also paid tribute to Van Der Beek on social media. Humes wrote: "You fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity." Philipps said: "James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and I don’t know what else to say. I am just so so sad.”
Last year, Van Der Beek was forced to pull out of a Dawson's Creek reunion on stage in New York due to his illness. The event was set to raise money for cancer charities and Van Der Beek himself. In a video shared that night, he said: "I can’t believe I don’t get to hug my castmates. I wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight.”
A Lasting Legacy
Since Van Der Beek's death, his family has raised over $1.3m on a GoFundMe to cover "essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children's education". The outpouring of support is a testament to the impact Van Der Beek had on the lives of those around him, both on and off screen.
As the entertainment industry continues to mourn the loss of this talented actor, it is clear that James Van Der Beek's legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched. As Katie Holmes so eloquently put it: "I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it.”
