Michelle Williams pays tribute to James Van Der Beek after ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star’s death
Michelle Williams paid tribute to James Van Der Beek after his death from cancer.
After winning the SAG Actor Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a television movie or limited series for her role in “Dying for Sex” on Sunday, the actress took to “Entertainment Tonight” to reflect on her loss.
When asked if she was thinking about her late “Dawson’s Creek” co-star while accepting her award, she said sadly, “I’m thinking about him and I’m always thinking about his family.
“And I also want to say that as a friend of James and a friend of the family it has been amazing to see the response after his death and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in sustaining their lives and the lives of their children and it is an incredibly meaningful thing to witness.”
Van Der Beek portrayed the lead character, Dawson Leery, in the popular WB teen drama, while Williams, 45, played Jen Lindley. The show ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003.
The heartbreaking tribute to the “Brokeback Mountain” actor came after Van Der Beek’s death on Feb. 11 following a multi-year battle with colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.
At the time, the “Varsity Blues” star’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, said James “passed peacefully.”
“He met his last days with courage, faith and grace,” she wrote on Instagram.
“There’s a lot we can talk about about his ambitions, love for humanity and the sanctity of time. Those days will come,” added Kimberly. “For now we ask that we be alone in peace as we grieve for our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
James has been battling Stage 3 cancer since August 2023.
To help with her medical expenses, she sold some of her personal “Dawson’s Creek” memorabilia — including a necklace her character Joey (played by Katie Holmes) got from prom — last year.
Holmes mourned her late “Dawson’s Creek” co-star on social media by sharing a touching handwritten note.
“To share the space with your imagination is sacred – to breathe the same air in the world of make-believe and trust that each other’s hearts are safe from their speech,” Holmes wrote.
“These are some of the memories, along with the laughter, the conversations about life, the songs of James Taylor – the adventures of a unique youth,” he added.
The “Batman Begins” star then highlighted Jacob’s “compassion, courage, self-sacrifice and strength” before commenting on his “sincere appreciation of life that life is art.”
Holmes said he will “always be there” for James’ “beautiful” wife and their six “loving children”.
“I mourn this loss with a heart holding the truth of his absence and deep gratitude for his writing in it,” he concluded.
Friends of James have set up a GoFundMe to help his family with expenses after his death. As of this publication, more than $2.7 million has been raised.
