James Van Der Beek’s 10 Best Movies & TV Shows

It’s been really tough lately seeing so many actors from the ’90s pass away – it’s hitting those of us who grew up in that era hard. I mean, first Matthew Perry, then Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty, Catherine O’Hara, and now James Van Der Beek… it’s a stark reminder that the ’90s were actually 30 years ago, and those actors we idolized aren’t immortal. I definitely grew up watching Van Der Beek, and it’s wild to think that a whole new generation is discovering him now through Dawson’s Creek on streaming. It just feels…sad.

We often remember him as the character who always showed up at Joey’s window, but Van Der Beek was a talented actor with a lot of other great roles in film and television too.

‘Bad Hair’ (2020)

Hulu

The horror comedy Bad Hair got a mixed reaction from critics, but it was a particularly strong recent role for actor Van Der Beek. The film, one of Hulu’s best original horror movies, follows Anna (Elle Lorraine), a young Black woman aiming for a promotion at her television job. When she’s pressured to change her hairstyle to better fit the station’s image – specifically, to get a weave – she starts a surprising journey, and her hair begins to behave strangely. The movie highlights the difficulties Black women often face trying to meet workplace beauty expectations, with Anna’s hair serving as a powerful symbol of her challenges.

Van Der Beek appears in a minor role as Grant Madison, the network owner where Anna works. He’s the one who decides to rebrand the network and hires Zora (Vanessa Williams), which eventually leads to pressure on Anna to change her appearance to fit his expectations. He effectively embodies the stereotypical role of a powerful, out-of-touch businessman who overlooks the contributions of a Black woman.

‘CSI: Cyber’ (2015–2016)

CBS

Despite being the least popular series in the CSI universe, Kim Van Der Beek delivered a strong performance as Elijah Mundo, a senior FBI field agent. He worked with Patricia Arquette’s Dr. Avery Ryan, and his character was a former Marine with a passion for gaming, which gave him unique insight into online threats. Sadly mirroring real life, Van Der Beek’s character faced a personal battle with cancer as his father received a diagnosis, leading to a storyline where he was stalked by a bartender.

Despite being a fairly standard police show, CSI: Cyber was surprisingly forward-thinking. It focused on cybercrime, a topic that’s become much more prominent in recent years, and might have found greater success if it had aired more recently. Regardless, the show gave actor Van Der Beek a chance to showcase his talent for playing strong, capable leaders who expertly bring criminals to justice, adding a notable credit to his career within a major television franchise.

‘Overcompensating’ (2025–)

Amazon Prime Video

James Van Der Beek made a guest appearance in the comedy series Overcompensating, which has been picked up for another season. The show follows Benny (Benito Skinner), a college student who was a star athlete and class valedictorian in high school. Benny is gay, but he overcompensates by exaggerating traditionally masculine traits. He eventually finds someone he can be open with, and then meets Carmen (Wally Baram), an outsider who helps Benny realize he has more in common with others than he thought.

I recently watched a series featuring Jonathan Van Der Beek, and let me tell you, he’s fantastic as Charlie. The character is essentially a man who never really grew up, still chasing that college feeling long after graduation. He’s supposed to be mentoring a new group of students, but it’s obvious he’s not planning on giving up his wild side anytime soon. Van Der Beek really nails the man-child vibe. And he’s surrounded by some incredible guest stars – Connie Britton, Megan Fox, Kyle MacLachlan, Charli XCX, Bowen Yang, and Andrea Martin all make appearances. It’s a really strong show, boasting a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and sadly, one of Van Der Beek’s final TV roles, which makes it even more poignant.

‘Castle in the Sky’ (2003)

Disney / Buena Vista

Released in 1986, Castle in the Sky is a Japanese animated adventure about two orphans who are chased by the government, the military, and pirates. They’re searching for a special crystal necklace that will unlock the secrets of Laputa, a legendary castle in the sky. A dubbed English version came out in 2003, featuring voice acting from actors like Van Der Beek.

He played Pazu, a young orphan and mechanic who leads the group searching for the castle. He acted alongside well-known stars like Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Andy Dick, and Mandy Patinkin. Although he wasn’t primarily a voice actor, this role in the incredibly popular and long-lasting show probably gained him many new fans.

‘The Rules of Attraction’ (2002)

Lions Gate Films

While initially receiving mixed reactions and performing moderately well in theaters, the film The Rules of Attraction has gained a devoted following over the past twenty years and is now considered a classic college movie. The film is adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’s 1987 novel and centers on a complex love triangle involving three college students: a drug dealer, a virgin, and a bisexual individual.

John Van Der Beek plays Sean Bateman, a drug dealer who is believed to be the younger brother of the notorious serial killer Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. Sean is a troubled young man caught between Paul (Ian Somerhalder) and Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon), and he’s struggling to navigate their mixed signals, which create awkward situations. It’s a surprising role for Van Der Beek, a departure from his character in Dawson’s Creek, as he portrays a self-destructive individual, but he pulls it off effectively.

‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)

CBS

Though a minor character in the popular sitcom, his appearance was a funny and memorable moment for viewers. In How I Met Your Mother, Robin (Cobie Smulders) is established as Canadian, and the show often uses this for comedic effect, leaning into common stereotypes. Van Der Beek plays Simon, Robin’s first boyfriend, who appears in flashbacks detailing their brief summer romance (specifically, the last week of July in Canada). He broke up with her because her parents installed a swimming pool.

Robin unexpectedly runs into him again, but she doesn’t realize he’s not a great guy – Marshall jokingly calls this “revertigo.” The actor brilliantly portrays an over-the-top, self-centered Canadian, particularly when he breaks up with Robin – yet again – for a woman with a jacuzzi. He was so funny that he returned in later seasons, playing a more mature and well-adjusted version of the character, making him a standout recurring guest star on the show.

‘Pose’ (2018–2021)

The popular series Pose, created by Ryan Murphy, gained recognition for its portrayal of the LGBTQ community, particularly focusing on the ball culture within the African American and Latino communities of New York City. The show was groundbreaking, with Billy Porter becoming the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy for his leading role in a drama series, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez making history as the first transgender lead actor to be nominated for a leading actress Emmy.

In the first season, James Van Der Beek played Matt Bromley, the intimidating boss of a young professional named Stan who worked at Trump Tower. Bromley is a fiercely ambitious and cutthroat character, willing to do anything to succeed, and he becomes intensely envious of anyone he perceives as surpassing him. With this role, Van Der Beek proved he was more than just a comedic actor or a former teen star; he showed he could handle complex, challenging parts with real skill and intensity.

‘Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23’ (2012–2014)

ABC

Viewers were heartbroken when the show ended after only two seasons. It was a funny series about June Colburn (Dreama Walker), a sweet and somewhat clueless woman from a small town who moves to New York City to try and turn her life around. There, she meets Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a carefree woman who runs a unique scheme: she collects rent upfront, then drives tenants away so she can keep the money. Actor Paul Van Der Beek plays a fictionalized version of himself, and is a close friend of Chloe’s.

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The show centers around an actor trying to revive his career by leaning on the fame of his old series, Dawson’s Creek. However, he’s also hilariously stuck in the past, clinging to his former success and holding onto old rivalries with other child stars. Desperate for work, he takes any acting job offered, even appearing on Dancing with the Stars – a detail that mirrors Van Der Beek’s actual participation in the show in 2019. This self-aware role made Van Der Beek more relatable, much like Neil Patrick Harris did by playfully poking fun at himself in the Harold & Kumar films. It’s ironic that this charming role may have actually helped boost Van Der Beek’s career, similar to how it did for Harris, as he landed some bigger roles after appearing in the short-lived sitcom.

‘Varsity Blues’ (1999)

Paramount

James Van Der Beek is well-known for his role as Jonathan “Mox” Moxon in the film Varsity Blues. It’s a classic story about teenagers on a high school football team navigating the usual difficulties of growing up, but with the added pressure of living in a town where football is everything. Their coach is intensely focused on winning, and Mox also has to deal with a father who is completely consumed by the sport.

Similar to his role on Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek plays a bright, popular, and seemingly successful high schooler in this film – but beneath the surface, he’s struggling with unhappiness. While Varsity Blues received negative reviews when it was first released, with critics finding it unoriginal and full of tired tropes, it has since gained a devoted following and is now considered a beloved and highly-regarded football movie.

‘Dawson’s Creek’ (1998-2003)

The WB

I’ll always remember Dawson’s Creek as the show that really defined a generation – and launched Joshua Jackson’s career! For six seasons, I was completely captivated by his portrayal of Dawson Leery, this incredibly bright and thoughtful 15-year-old who dreamed of making movies. I loved his close friendship with Joey (Katie Holmes), even though it was obvious he had deeper feelings for her, and the show really delved into that. But what really stood out to me was how bravely Dawson’s Creek tackled such important and often difficult subjects – everything from loss and identity to racism, addiction, and mental health. It wasn’t afraid to get real.

Along with popular shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Degrassi, Dawson’s Creek really captured the spirit of a generation. Viewers connected with the characters – Dawson, Joey, Jen, Pacey, and Audrey – and felt like they understood their experiences. Dawson, played by Van Der Beek, was particularly relatable, and the actor convincingly portrayed the character, even though he was much older than 15. He fully embodied the role, making age irrelevant.

2026-02-13 19:25