The “Dawson’s Creek” star recalled laughter, music and youthful adventures in a heartfelt letter following his death.
Actress Katie Holmes paid tribute to her late “Dawson’s Creek” co-star James Van Der Beek in a deeply personal handwritten letter shared on Instagram.
In the note, Holmes reflected on their years working together on the hit WB series Dawson’s Creek, writing that she always felt safe expressing herself on set with him. She described memories filled with “laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs” and “adventures of a unique youth.”
Holmes praised Van Der Beek’s “compassion, bravery, selflessness and strength,” before directing her message to his wife, Kimberley, and their six children.
“We are here for you always,” she wrote. “And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion.”
Van Der Beek, who rose to fame as aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery on the late-1990s teen drama, died Wednesday at age 48 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer. His diagnosis became public in 2024.
Holmes is among dozens of celebrities honoring the actor’s life, including co-stars Busy Philipps and Kerr Smith, as well as Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Garner, and Reese Witherspoon.
A GoFundMe launched by his wife to help cover medical expenses surpassed $1 million within hours of his passing.
For fans of a generation-defining series, the tributes reflect more than just the loss of a co-star — they mark the passing of a piece of late-’90s television history.
