Hollywood pays tribute to Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek, the beloved actor best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, passed away on February 11 after a year-long battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. 

His death was followed by an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from friends and colleagues across Hollywood.

Variety reported that Reese Witherspoon said, “It’s just a devastating loss. He’s been so loved in our community.” The actress considered Van Der Beek as an extraordinary and talented man who showed kindness and grace in everything he did.

 Witherspoon recently worked with him on the Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, which was his final show.

 Jennifer Garner also reflected on her long-standing friendship with Van Der Beek, saying that they grew up together and celebrated each other’s successes. She noted that he always carried the warmth of his entire family wherever he went.

Dawson’s Creek co-stars also shared emotional tributes. Katie Holmes posted a handwritten note reflecting on their early acting days together-- praising his bravery, compassion, selflessness, and strength. 

She described his life as a “journey of a hero.” She wrote, “I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it.” Holmes also offered her love and support to his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.

On Instagram, Actress Busy Philipps posted  that her heart was deeply hurting for his family and friends. She described him as “one in a billion,” expressing gratitude for their  friendship.

Mary-Margaret Humes, who played his mother in the series, called him a “gracious warrior.” She shared that their final conversation just days ago will forever remain in her heart. She also asked fans to respect the family’s request for privacy during this time of mourning.

Other celebrities also publicly mourned his loss. Melissa Joan Hart, Krysten Ritter, Alec Baldwin, and many others shared condolences on social media: praising his talent, kindness, and lasting impact both on and off screen.

British American dancer Emma Slater, his partner on Dancing With the Stars, posted a deeply personal tribute, expressing how much he meant to her as both a colleague and a friend. 

Comedian and actor Alfonso Ribeiro shared two heartfelt posts — one featuring a heartwarming photo of them together accompanied by a long caption, and another recalling the final moments before he said his “last goodbye” to his friend. 

Ribeiro, godfather to Gwendolyn, one of Van Der Beek’s daughters, vowed to always honor that role. "My last moment (with James) was making him laugh one last time. I really miss him already."