The first public tribute from the Dawson’s Creek family has arrived — and it’s deeply emotional.
Katie Holmes has become the first surviving member of the show’s core cast to publicly react to the death of her longtime co-star and friend, James Van Der Beek, who died at 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer.
Van Der Beek revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer after initially undergoing treatment privately. He later shared more about his condition in November 2024. Despite continuing treatment, he passed away after what reports describe as a years-long fight. A fundraising page set up following his death noted that the illness had left his family struggling financially.
Holmes, who famously played Joey Potter opposite Van Der Beek’s Dawson Leery, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram.
“I formed some words with a heavy heart. This is a lot to process. I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James’ journey. He is beloved,” she wrote.
She also posted a handwritten note addressed to her former co-star, reflecting on their time together during their breakout years on television.
“To share space with your imagination is sacred,” she wrote. “Breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression. These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth.”
Holmes went on to describe him with words like bravery, compassion, selflessness, and strength. She praised his devotion to his wife and six children and called his life’s journey heroic.
“I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it,” she added.
Series creator Kevin Williamson also paid tribute, saying he struggled to find the right words to express what Van Der Beek meant to him.
“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,” he wrote on Instagram, sharing photos of the two together over the years. “I will have to trust that one day those words will come…”
Van Der Beek’s final public appearance came during a December interview on the Today show. At the time, he shared that he was still undergoing treatment and “trying a bunch of stuff,” describing managing the illness as a full-time job. He did not go into detail about his specific medical plan.
The actor, who became a household name in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.