Katie Holmes has paid tribute to her Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek, remembering his “bravery,” “selflessness,” and his “exploits as a unique young man.”
Both actors rose to fame on the hit teen drama launched in 1998, in which they played boyfriend and girlfriend Dawson Leary and Joey Potter.
Van der Beek passed away on Wednesday, 2023.
at the age of 48, following a diagnosis of bowel cancer.
Holmes, 47, said the news of his death was “a lot to process”, but she was “grateful to share a part of his journey”.
In a handwritten tribute shared in a photo on Instagram, he said they had shared “laughter”, “conversations about life”, and “the adventures of a unique youth”.
Holmes, who starred in films and shows including Batman Begins and Ray Donovan, continued: “Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. The actress expressed her appreciation for life and the steps she took to live with the conviction that life is an art, resulting in a beautiful marriage and six beautiful children – a journey of a hero.”
The actress also included a message for Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their children, saying, “We are always here for you. We 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 ups and downs of their friendship and romance.
‘One in a billion’
Dawson’s Creek star dies at 48
Along with Van Der Beek and Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson make up the four main cast, playing Jane Lindley and Pacey Witter, respectively.
The show was extremely popular, making the young actors household names in the US and Britain.
Busy Phillips, who starred in later series of the show, also paid tribute to Van Der Beek, describing him as “one in a billion” and saying, “My heart goes out to all of us today.”
She also shared details of a GoFundMe page set up to support the actor’s family, saying that “his medical care” and “long battle against cancer” have left the family without funds. Donations have already exceeded $1 million.
Mary-Margaret Humes, who plays Dawson’s mother Gail, shared photos of the pair together and wrote, “I can hardly find the words… today will be the exception. James, my gentle warrior, you bravely faced a challenging battle with unwavering strength and dignity. I will always love and admire you for that.”
He said that they had had a conversation just a few days before his death and that the conversation was “deeply seated in my heart to be kept safe forever”.
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Van Der Beek also starred in the film Varsity Blues, in which he played the high school football team’s backup quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, 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 being inside and out.”
His wife, Kimberly, and six children survive Van der Beek.
