Katie Holmes has paid tribute to her Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek, remembering his “bravery” and “selflessness”, and their “adventures of a unique youth”.
The two actors rose to fame on the hit teen drama, which launched in 1998, playing on-off boyfriend and girlfriend Dawson Leery and Joey Potter.
Van Der Beek died on Wednesday, aged 48, after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023.
Holmes, 47, said the news of his death had been “a lot to process” but she was “grateful to have shared in a piece of his journey”.
In a handwritten tribute shared in a photo on Instagram, she said they had shared “laughter”, “conversations about life”, and “adventures of a unique youth”.
Holmes, who went on to star in films and shows including Batman Begins and Ray Donovan, continued: “Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art – creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children – the journey of a hero.”
The actress included a message to Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and his children, saying: “We are here for you always. And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion.”
Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003, followed a group of high school friends and the highs and lows of their friendships and romances.
‘One in a billion’
Alongside Van Der Beek and Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson made up the core cast of four, playing Jen Lindley and Pacey Witter, respectively.
The show was hugely popular, turning the young actors into household names in the US and UK.
Busy Philipps, who starred in a later series of the show, also paid tribute to Van Der Beek, describing him as “one in a billion” and saying: “My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today.”
She also shared details of a GoFundMe page set up to support the actor’s family, which says his medical care “and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds”. More than $1m has already been donated.
Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson’s mother Gail, shared pictures of the pair together and wrote: “Rarely am I at a loss for words … today would be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity. I will always love and admire you for that.”
She said they had spoken just a few days before his death and that those conversations are “forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping”.
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Van Der Beek also starred in the film Varsity Blues, in which he played Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, the backup quarterback of a high school football team, and played a parody version of himself in the sitcom Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23.
Krysten Ritter, who starred in the series, described her former co-star as a “beautiful human inside and out”.
Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and six children.
