James Van Der Beek ‘became what we used to just call a good man,’ Joshua Jackson says

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Joshua Jackson admits he understands he was a relatively minor figure in James Van Der Beek’s life, even though they had a wonderful experience working together on “Dawson’s Creek.”

For the first time, the star of “The Affair” is speaking out about his former co-star, who passed away on February 11th at the age of 48 after fighting colorectal cancer.

Television

James Van Der Beek, best known for his role as Dawson Leery in the popular TV show ‘Dawson’s Creek’ alongside Katie Holmes, has passed away at the age of 48.

Jackson described their time working together on set as a defining experience. When the first episode of “Dawson’s Creek” first aired in January 1998, he was 19 years old and Van Der Beek was almost 21, despite playing characters who were only 15.

We both remember that time fondly, but I also recognize that my contribution to his overall success was relatively small.

Jackson spoke highly of his friend, describing him as a truly good man. He admired his friend’s strong faith, which allowed him to handle even the most difficult challenges with dignity. Jackson also praised him as a devoted husband, a reliable partner, and a wonderful father who was always present and engaged with his family.

The speaker acknowledged the beauty of the situation, but also expressed deep sympathy for the family experiencing such a significant loss, recognizing the immense pain they must be feeling.

Television

James Van Der Beek’s family is receiving support from a GoFundMe campaign that has attracted donations from celebrities like Steven Spielberg, a favorite director of the character Dawson Leery.

It’s been about thirty years since Joshua Jackson and James Van Der Beek starred as Pacey Witter and Dawson Leery. Since then, they’ve both become fathers. Jackson has a 5-year-old daughter with his ex-wife, Jodie Turner-Smith, who was born during the pandemic. Van Der Beek has six children – two sons and four daughters, ages 4 to 15 – with his wife, Kimberly Brook, and he says having them has completely changed his life.

The actor explained that having children completely changed his life, making happiness something he experiences with them rather than just for himself. He described it as an incredible learning experience, calling it both the most challenging and most fulfilling thing he’s ever done.

Jackson, speaking on “Today,” explained that becoming a father himself has made the news of his colleague’s tragedy feel much more profound. He said he’s still processing the loss and that it affects him deeply as a father, in addition to being a coworker.

The actor from “Little Fires Everywhere” appeared on a morning talk show Tuesday to raise awareness about the importance of getting screened for colorectal cancer.

Science & Medicine

The recent passing of actor James Van Der Beek brings attention to a concerning increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses among younger people.

After actor James Van Der Beek announced his cancer diagnosis in November 2024, Julian Jackson became involved with AstraZeneca’s “Get Body Checked Against Cancer” campaign. The campaign aims to encourage cancer screenings using a more approachable and lighthearted style, and features a collaboration between Jackson, the National Hockey League, and the Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot, Gritty.

As actor from “The Mighty Ducks” put it, “The sooner you discover something, the more likely you are to achieve a good result.”

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2026-03-10 20:01