Hollywood is mourning James Van Der Beek with an outpouring of tributes revealing the actor’s profound impact beyond the screen.
Busy Philipps, his Dawson’s Creek co-star, broke down on social media: “James was one in a billion and he will be forever missed”. She urged her 2.4 million followers to donate to the family’s GoFundMe as Kimberly Van Der Beek faces raising six children alone.
The actor died February 11, 2026, at age 48 from stage 3 colorectal cancer that financially devastated his family despite two decades of Hollywood success.
Who Said Goodbye
- Busy Philipps (Dawson’s Creek): “He was my friend, and I loved him. I’m incredibly grateful for our friendship over the years”
- Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee): “I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I’ll miss him deeply”
- Krysten Ritter (Don’t Trust the B): “Beautiful human inside and out. Smart, empathic, kind, talented and just pure magic”
- Alfonso Ribeiro: Got to say goodbye over the weekend, calls him his “friend and life guide”
- Chad Michael Murray: “James was a giant. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us”
- Sarah Michelle Gellar: “James’s legacy will always live on—this is a loss not just for your family but for the world”
- Austin Nichols: “As an actor, friend, and father I know he was even more beautiful and inspiring”
The Friend Who Watched Him Fight
Alfonso Ribeiro revealed he said goodbye to his “beautiful friend” just days before Van Der Beek’s death. He watched the family ride “this rollercoaster of highs when it looked like he had it beat, to the soul-breaking lows of it coming back”.
Ribeiro is godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter Gwen and now considers him “my guardian angel”. His tribute exposes the brutal reality of stage 3 cancer—moments of hope followed by devastating relapses.
The Co-Stars Who Became Family
Busy Philipps and Van Der Beek reunited in 2012 for “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” where he played a hilarious fictional version of himself. Krysten Ritter, their co-star, remembered both “James and fake James” in her tribute.
“I’m grateful for our friendship and heartbroken. My love goes out to his amazing wife and their children,” Ritter wrote. She called him an “empath” who radiated “pure magic”.
Kerr Smith, who played Jack McPhee on Dawson’s Creek, kept his tribute simple: “I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother”. The show’s cast formed bonds that lasted decades beyond the 1998-2003 run.
The Stars Who Saw His Greatness
Chad Michael Murray, who appeared in both Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill, called Van Der Beek “a giant”. “His words, art and humanity inspired all of us—he inspired us to be better in all ways,” Murray wrote.
Austin Nichols reflected on Van Der Beek’s inspiring nature: “James represented something to aspire to”. He emphasized knowing him as “an actor, friend, and father” made the loss even more profound.
Sarah Michelle Gellar commented directly on the family’s Instagram announcement, emphasizing Van Der Beek’s global impact. “James’s legacy will always live on—this is a loss not just for your family but for the world,” she wrote.
The Reality Behind the Tributes
Philipps didn’t just post condolences—she actively pushed followers to donate to the family’s financial crisis. The GoFundMe crossed $1 million in 24 hours after revealing Van Der Beek’s medical bills had drained all savings.
“The costs of James’s medical care have left the family out of funds,” the campaign states. Kimberly and the six children face losing their home without continued donations.
Van Der Beek had already sold Dawson’s Creek memorabilia and Varsity Blues jerseys throughout 2025 to cover treatment costs. He told People magazine the sales were necessary “with all the recent unexpected twists and turns”.
Why This Outpouring Matters
The celebrity tributes reveal something deeper than Hollywood politeness—Van Der Beek genuinely impacted everyone he worked with. Multiple co-stars used words like “brother,” “friend,” and “family” rather than professional colleague.
His death at 48 from colorectal cancer also highlights a growing medical crisis. He was only 45 at diagnosis—younger than most screening guidelines recommended. The disease is surging among Americans under 50.
Born March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, Van Der Beek became a 1990s icon as Dawson Leery. His portrayal defined teen television and launched careers for the entire cast.
He continued working through cancer treatment, appearing on The Masked Singer in 2025 and filming Amazon’s “Overcompensating”. Six months before his death, he told USA TODAY that cancer “reinvigorated his love” for acting.
The tributes flooding social media prove Van Der Beek lived the values he portrayed on screen—kindness, authenticity, and deep connection. Kimberly and the six children now carry his legacy forward, supported by an industry that genuinely loved him.
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