James Van Der Beek was always in on the joke

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I loved “Dawson’s Creek” because it felt different from other teen shows. It actually treated teenagers like they were intelligent and thoughtful, which was refreshing. But honestly, part of the fun was how different it was – none of the main characters actually talked like real teens! They had these incredibly sophisticated vocabularies and talked about art and life in a way that was totally unrealistic, but in a really charming way. It was like they were super-smart, well-read adults trapped in teenage bodies!

When “Dawson’s Creek” finished its six-season run in 2003, it paved the way for more sophisticated teen dramas like “Gossip Girl.” The show also coincided with the growing popularity of online spaces like chat rooms and fan-created stories. In fact, the website Television Without Pity, known for its witty recaps, was created in 1998 specifically to analyze the show’s writing.

Over time, it became clear that no one understood the complexities of the show “Dawson’s Creek” quite like its star, James Van Der Beek.

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Appreciation: On ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ James Van Der Beek taught millennials how to cry

The actor passed away Wednesday after a battle with cancer. He’s fondly remembered by many for his work on a popular teen drama that had a big impact on a generation.

The other three main actors from that show actively worked to avoid being defined by a single role. Joshua Jackson has become well-known for his intense roles in dramas like “Dr. Death” and “The Affair,” but he also enjoyed playing up the silliness of “Doctor Odyssey.” Katie Holmes’ acting achievements were often overshadowed by intense media attention on her personal life, particularly her marriage to Tom Cruise, despite her talent on stage and her work as a director and in independent films—she seemed especially energized in the final season of “Poker Face.” Michelle Williams is a highly respected actress; in fact, Steven Spielberg asked her to portray his mother in his film “The Fabelmans.”

James Van Der Beek, who passed away Wednesday after battling colorectal cancer, appeared to live by the philosophy of enjoying life and participating in its joys, rather than fighting against its inevitable challenges.

Most people probably remember Van Der Beek, best known as Dawson, crying on a dock. That scene, from a 2000 episode, showed a teenager heartbroken over his girlfriend choosing his best friend. But taken out of context, it seems silly. Generally, a dramatically upset teenager just looks over the top, unless you’re the one going through it.

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Thankfully, Van Der Beek took the viral GIF in stride. In 2011, he made a Funny or Die video to share the story behind it and jokingly talked about how he’d considered making money from it.

He said that seeing the image used to make fun of people’s feelings online made him understand something: the internet wanted more dramatic, up-close pictures of his face, and he said this with a dry wit.

In fact, much of his post-“Dawson’s” career was really about telling you that he’s in on the joke.

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James Van Der Beek appeared on the ABC comedy “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23” for two seasons, playing a heightened, comedic version of himself. He starred as the friend and partner-in-crime of Krysten Ritter’s character, who was a notoriously difficult roommate.

At a 2017 press event, actor James Van Der Beek explained that he now felt comfortable poking fun at his own past fame, something that might have seemed ungrateful when he was at his most popular. He was promoting his show ‘What Would Diplo Do?’ on Viceland, where he played a silly version of the DJ and producer Diplo, and felt audiences were more receptive to his self-deprecating humor, particularly within the context of his new project, ‘Don’t Trust the B—’.

@vanderjames

I was really nervous to perform publicly, as past insecurities about my singing had lingered for years. I’m so grateful to my wife and kids for giving me the courage to face my fears and take on The Masked Singer. A huge thank you to the show’s producers for the opportunity, the incredible costume designers for creating such a cool look, Britt for helping me choose the right song, and the musical director for being so open to my ideas. I also want to thank the choreographers for the awesome dances (even though I couldn’t see them under the mask 😂), Ivan for his expert coaching, and Amy for helping me rediscover my own voice. I hope this inspires others to pursue their passions! ❤️ You can catch my performance on The Masked Singer Wednesday nights on Fox. #singing #disturbia #themaskedsinger

♬ original sound – James Van Der Beek

It was a strange twist of fate when, in 2019, actor James Van Der Beek ended up on “Dancing With the Stars” – a scenario that had actually been predicted in a storyline from his show, “Dawson’s Creek.” He continued to embrace reality TV with appearances on “The Masked Singer” and “The Real Full Monty,” using the latter to raise money for cancer research. He also became a familiar voice to a generation of millennials now watching children’s programming, voicing the dad on Disney Channel’s “Vampirina,” with Lauren Graham, known from “Gilmore Girls,” as the mom.

Entertainment & Arts

It was really sad to hear about James Van Der Beek’s passing yesterday. He lost his battle with colorectal cancer, and so many of his friends and former colleagues are mourning him. I saw tributes pouring in from people like Krysten Ritter, Chad Michael Murray, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and even some of the cast of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ – it’s clear he was well-loved and respected in the industry.

While Van Der Beek took on dramatic roles in shows like “CSI: Cyber” and “Pose,” he always seemed aware of his image. His final TV appearance was on Prime Video’s “Overcompensating,” where he played Charlie, an older, former fraternity member realizing his prime is over. It felt like a symbolic passing of the baton to the show’s creator and star, Benito Skinner.

Charlie wished Peter, a college senior named Adam DiMarco, a good day before heading out to have some fun before work on Monday.

Childhood goes away. The memories of the people who were integral to it do not.

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2026-02-12 14:01