I’m absolutely heartbroken to hear about James Van Der Beek. He passed away this week after a battle with colorectal cancer, which he was diagnosed with last year. His wife shared a beautiful message saying he faced his final days with incredible courage and faith, and spoke about his wishes and love for the world. It’s just so sad. So many people who grew up with him – like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nikki Reed – have been sending their condolences, and his Dancing With the Stars partner, Emma Slater, was completely devastated. She said he’ll always be family and that he had so much to be proud of, and she was grateful she got to say goodbye. It’s a huge loss.
The Van Der Beek family is facing incredibly high medical bills. To help, friends organized a GoFundMe campaign and even hosted a Dawson’s Creek reunion last year. Actor Paul Walter Hauser has also been using Cameo to raise money for the family, sharing a heartfelt message on Instagram expressing support and promising continued prayers and fundraising efforts. Here are some tributes from friends and colleagues remembering James Van Der Beek.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar shared her grief on Instagram after the passing of James Van Der Beek’s mother. She wrote that she ‘grew up alongside’ him and remembered him as ‘one of the good guys,’ calling his death a ‘true loss.’ On a post from James’ wife, Gellar expressed her sadness for the family, acknowledging James’ lasting impact while powerfully stating, ‘Fuck Cancer.’ This loss is particularly poignant for Gellar, who also lost her close friend and Charmed co-star, Shannen Doherty, to cancer last year.
Nikki Reed
The actress from Twilight and Thirteen left a touching comment on Kimberly Van Der Beek’s Instagram post. She wrote, “You are a beautiful person. Anyone lucky enough to know you is forever impacted by your kindness, depth, and incredible love for your family. The bond you and Kimberly share feels like it goes beyond this lifetime.” She also added, “You’re still the wisest person I’ve ever met.”
Busy Philipps
Busy Philipps shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about her former Dawson’s Creek co-star, James Van Der Beek, expressing her deep sadness over his passing. She described him as a truly special person and cherished their friendship over the years. She also shared a link to the family’s GoFundMe page in her Instagram Stories. ❤️
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith and James Van Der Beek first connected when Van Der Beek made a cameo appearance in the film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Van Der Beek later jokingly told Jason Biggs he wouldn’t survive a single day on the set of Clerks. Smith shared on Instagram that Van Der Beek wasn’t just a name or a face for the film; he fully embraced the experience and created memorable moments, even in a less-than-stellar movie. Smith expressed his gratitude, saying Van Der Beek is a generous, funny, and humble star who helped him achieve his vision twice.
Krysten Ritter
Krysten Ritter shared several photos of herself with James Van Der Beek from the set of Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23. She described him as a wonderful person, praising his intelligence, humor, kindness, and talent, calling him “pure magic.”
Paul Walter Hauser
Leslie Nielsen’s son, Hauser, signed up for Cameo to help cover the costs of his wife’s cancer treatment. He shared on Instagram that they’ve already raised 70% of their $20,000 goal thanks to the support they’ve received.
Roger Avary
Roger Avary, the director who worked with James Van Der Beek on the 2002 film The Rules of Attraction, shared his sadness on X (formerly Twitter). He described Van Der Beek as a source of support for him and his family during difficult times, emphasizing their relationship was more than just professional. Avary knew Van Der Beek was bravely facing a serious struggle and was grateful they had recently had a deep, meaningful conversation about life.
Julie Plec
Julie Plec, who created The Vampire Diaries, began her career on Dawson’s Creek. She recently shared on Instagram that James Van Der Beek is “a generational icon.”
“Sleep now, Dawson.”
Read More
- The Batman 2 Villain Update Backs Up DC Movie Rumor
- Adolescence’s Co-Creator Is Making A Lord Of The Flies Show. Everything We Know About The Book-To-Screen Adaptation
- Decoding Cause and Effect: AI Predicts Traffic with Human-Like Reasoning
- Will there be a Wicked 3? Wicked for Good stars have conflicting opinions
- World of Warcraft Decor Treasure Hunt riddle answers & locations
- My Favorite Coen Brothers Movie Is Probably Their Most Overlooked, And It’s The Only One That Has Won The Palme d’Or!
- Travis And Jason Kelce Revealed Where The Life Of A Showgirl Ended Up In Their Spotify Wrapped (And They Kept It 100)
- Crypto prices today (18 Nov): BTC breaks $90K floor, ETH, SOL, XRP bleed as liquidations top $1B
- Games of December 2025. We end the year with two Japanese gems and an old-school platformer
- Abandon All Hope
2026-02-12 02:55