Michelle Williams Breaks Silence on Dawson’s Creek Costar James Van Der Beek's Loss of life
Michelle Williams remembered her leisurely Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek, who died Feb. 11 at forty eight following a fight with colorectal most cancers, at the 2026 Actor Awards.
Michelle Williams' coronary heart will frequently be at the creek with James Van Der Beek.
At the 2026 Actor Awards on March 1, the actress touched on her leisurely Dawson's Creek costar, who died Feb. 11 at age forty eight after struggling with colorectal most cancers for added than two years.
“I'm taking underneath consideration him,” Michelle told Entertainment Tonight after winning Excellent Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Small Series for her work in Death for Sex, “and I'm taking underneath consideration his household continuously.”
She added, “It's been such an fabulous thing, as James's buddy and an very perfect friend of the household, to gaze the response within the wake of his passing.”
Ten months before James’ passing, Michelle, 45, shared that she was as soon as “fully” supporting her damaged-down castmate amid his successfully being fight by map of customary communique.
“We're bright, and he's in our hearts and our minds, and he is aware of that,” she told Entertainment Tonight in April. “And we're right here for him in each and all ideas.”
After all, the Oscar-nominated actress indubitably showed her loyalty by helping to prepare a Dawson’s Creek reunion tournament in strengthen of the organization F Cancer, which brought together Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Busy Philipps and extra of the teen drama’s solid in September.
“We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that can final a lifetime,” Michelle told Us Weekly in an announcement announcing the charity tournament. “We wished to purchase round our dear buddy James and remind him that we’re all right here. We frequently had been and we often will more than seemingly be. And I know the followers of Dawson’s Creek in actuality feel the same manner.”
And while James was as soon as too in depressed health to attend the September fundraiser—though he sent a message to attendees—his spouse Kimberly Van Der Beek famend that his presence was as soon as felt.
“This night was as soon as so special to the total household,” she acknowledged in a video on her Instagram Tales following the tournament. “And extra importantly, feeling my husband safe the total theater, and the love for him.”
“We’ll be unwinding this one for some time,” Kimberly—mom to adolescence Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4, with James—persisted, “but thanks for the love and strengthen and for the prayers.”
On the subject of a months later, his household confirmed that he had died, detailing his courageous fight.
“He met his final days with braveness, religion, and charm,” James’ household acknowledged in an announcement posted to his Instagram Feb. 11. “There could be powerful to share referring to his wants, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will attain. For now we query for tranquil privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and buddy.”
Many stars safe joined Michelle in honoring James’ memory. To safe extra celebrities who safe paid tribute to the leisurely actor, read on.
Kevin Williamson
“To Kimberly,” the Dawson Creek's creator penned alongside a Feb. 12 Instagram post. “With powerful love, we’re right here for you. Your Dawson’s Creek household will frequently be right here for you and your vivid household.”
He added, “To everybody, thanks for your outpouring of love. It has been felt. Several cases nowadays, from my coronary heart, I’ve tried to accumulate the phrases to valid the vivid brilliance of James and what his presence has intended to my lifestyles. Nonetheless I am in actuality puzzled. I will must belief that one day these phrases will attain… Nonetheless nowadays, all I will have the ability to mediate about is Kimberly and the total Van Der Beek household. My coronary heart is with you.”
Katie Holmes
“James, thanks,” Katie, who costarred with James on Dawson’s Creek, wrote in a handwritten demonstrate shared to Instagram Feb. 12. “To share a condominium with your imagination is sacred—breathing the same air within the land of manufacture imagine and trusting that every assorted's hearts are valid of their expression. These are about a of the reminiscences, in conjunction with laughter, conversations about lifestyles, James Taylor songs—adventures of a special adolescence.”
“An appreciation for lifestyles with the integrity that lifestyles is art—growing an very perfect making an are attempting marriage, six loving young other folks,” she added, “the toddle of a hero. I mourn this loss with a coronary heart conserving the fact of his absence and deep gratitude for his mark on it.”
Heather McComb
James' ex-spouse, to whom he was as soon as married from 2003 to 2009, penned a loving tribute in his memory.
“James was as soon as an very perfect making an are attempting soul full of so powerful light, love, expertise, humor, depth, sensitivity, info and a deep love of God that shined by map of him,” she wrote on Instagram. “He shined so vivid but was as soon as so humble and human. Constantly making an are attempting, frequently growing, frequently going deeper, frequently chasing things birth air his comfort zone.”
She persisted, “I know that James liked being a father so powerful and oh how he liked Kimberly with his all the pieces. Just soulmates. How she showed up for him with such grace is so vivid and something I will eternally adore.”
Mary Margaret-Humes
“No longer ceaselessly ever am I puzzled … nowadays could maybe be the exception,” Mary, who starred as James' mother on Dawson's Creek wrote on Instagram. “James, my gracious warrior, you fought a sturdy fight in opposition to all odds with such quiet strength and dignity. I will frequently love and adore you for that.
“Our final conversations … merely about a days ago … are eternally sitting softly in my coronary heart for valid keeping,” she shared. “To our prolonged Dawson’s Creek household of associates … please be respectful of our silences within the intervening time as Swish Kimberly and household safe requested for tranquil privacy for now.”
Krysten Ritter
“Truly sturdy info nowadays,” Krysten—who starred with James on Don't Trust the B—- In Condo 23, whereby he played a heightened model of himself—posted to Instagram Tales. “Worship you so powerful James and false James.”
Erin Fetherston
“Brother James, You were liked by the total world, but to us — you were Uncle James,” the style designer posted to Instagram. “Thanks for your friendship. For frequently exhibiting up. For being the one who would proceed the additional mile. When our canine died within the midst of the night, you were the one who came visiting with a shovel. When our infants were born, you and @vanderkimberly were the very first company — you didn’t factual safe time our milestones, you were share of them.”
“What an honor it was as soon as to safe a seat at your desk and to call you a easiest buddy,” she persisted. “The house you proceed away within the abet of can never be filled, but we are in a position to develop our easiest to bathe your vivid household with love and make sure you preserve dancing for your honor — on story of you frequently knew the importance of joy. We much like you. Constantly.”
Kerr Smith
“I’m so grateful for being in a space to call James a brother,” his Dawson's Creek costar wrote. “I’ll pass over him deeply. Rest easy.”
Michelle Williams
“I'm taking underneath consideration him,” she told Entertainment Tonight in March 2026, “and I'm taking underneath consideration his household continuously.”
Busy Philipps
“My coronary heart is deeply hurting for all of us nowadays…each one that knew James and liked him, anyone who liked his work or had the pleasure of assembly him, all of his dear associates and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, significantly his fogeys and brother and sister,” Busy, who worked with James on Dawson's Creek, wrote in a post. “Nonetheless I am profoundly heartbroken for his wonderful spouse Kimberly and their six magical young other folks.”
She added, “James Van Der Beek was as soon as one in a billion and he’ll be eternally overlooked and that i don’t know what else to claim. i am factual so so unhappy. He was as soon as my buddy and I liked him and that i’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.”
Ashton Kutcher
“Had the apt fortune of colourful and growing with this man,” Ashton wrote in a post on X. “Rip.”
Benito “Benny Drama” Skinner
The Overcompensating star and creator, who worked with James on the High Video series, wrote in an Instagram Legend, “A anecdote in each manner.”
Jenna Johnson
“A very most titillating father, husband, artist, and so powerful extra,” the Dancing With the Stars pro commented. “Sending your household your total love and opulent.”
Claire Espresso
“I worked with James so decades ago and he stays with out a doubt one of the kindest, wisest, most generous scene partners I’ve ever had,” the Franklin & Bash alum wrote. “What an very perfect making an are attempting legacy he leaves. Sending so powerful love.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda
After the info of the Dawson's Creek star's demise broke, the Hamilton creator shared a selfie with his household from the repeat's 2025 reunion, writing on his Instagram Legend, “My total coronary heart is with the Van Der Beek household nowadays.”
Echoing the social media observation to additional suppose condolences to “his galaxy of associates and relations,” a safe for the Tick, Tick…BOOM director acknowledged in an announcement to E! News, “James confronted this fight with his characteristic grace and humor, and I put no longer want any doubt his advocacy saved lives. I used to be as soon as so proud to be his understudy final three hundred and sixty five days at the Dawson’s Creek reunion and grateful for our friendship ever since. I will pass over him very powerful.”
Stacy Kiebler
“You showed me what it looks wish to belief God’s arrangement, even when it breaks your coronary heart,” she wrote on Instagram. “Especially when it breaks your coronary heart.”
She persisted, “The more than just a few night we watched the sundown together as you shared your wisdom, your hopes, and the promises we made to each assorted. We talked about how this world can in actuality feel the other map up…and the map in which per chance heaven wants your spirit now to support standard us down right here. And factual as the solar slipped away, a shooting star crossed the sky…as if to remind us that none of right here’s random.”
As she assign it, “You could maybe moreover be a present.”
Danica McKellar
“A vivid soul and unthinkably tragic loss,” she famend on Instagram. “Sending prayers of peace to your household as you direction of this. We are all by your facet.”
Kate Walsh
Sharing she was as soon as feeling heartbroken, the Grey's Anatomy alum added, “Sending love, light & strength to you dear @vanderkimberly.”
Jennifer Garner
“What a heartbreaking loss,” the actress wrote. “So powerful wish to you, Kimberly, and to your adolescence, as you navigate this gentle time.”
Christie Brinkley
“His kindness radiated, his love for his household was as soon as palpable it sparkled , everybody liked him,” she reflected. “My most heartfelt condolences exit to his vivid household he adored.”
Nikki Reed
“You vivid soul,” she started. “Someone who had the privilege of colourful you is eternally modified by you. Your depth, your presence, your unparalleled love for your household. The connection you and Kimberly safe that transcends lifetimes. You tranquil preserve the prize for wisest person I’ve ever known. Every share of recommendation, each nugget of lifestyles expertise you shared was as soon as a admire I’ll preserve shut eternally.”
She persisted, “And don’t even gain me started on the present you had with phrases. If you picked up your pen, you made all of us bear in mind what tenderness feels take care of on a page. Oh James, you are so so so deeply liked. And so so deeply overlooked. My coronary heart aches and I’m determined the ripples of these aches will more than seemingly be felt eternally.”
“And Kimberly,” the Twilight alum added, “we’re all wrapping you and these candy infants in love. My special sister, you and James are the ideal instance of love I’ve ever known. Right here for you in each manner, eternally.”
Melissa Joan Hart
“I'm heartbroken to hear that @vanderjames has passed away,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “He was as soon as in actuality a nice man, a tall father, very perfect actor and could maybe tranquil frequently be my first on display camouflage kiss when he guest starred on #ClarissaExplainsItAll.”
She persisted, “Long gone manner too rapidly but it appears take care of he assign up one hell of a fight. We ran into each assorted at the singing sport repeat #WeAreFamily about two years ago when he sang a music with his daughter, encouraging her take care of a apt dad does. My ideas and prayers exit to his 6 adolescence, his spouse and household!”
Emma Slater
The DWTS pro, who competed with James on the repeat's Twenty eighth season, wrote, “I’m so devastated. He’s and could maybe tranquil frequently be household to me. Worship you so powerful James. The person that you’re, you should maybe maybe even be contented with. So grateful that I purchased to be there to claim goodbye to you.”
Olivia Munn
“I’m so sorry,” she wrote. “My prayers are with you and your vivid household.”
Katharine McPhee Foster
“Right here’s factual past devastating info,” she acknowledged. “I’m so so sorry for your loss. God bless you all.”
Paul Walter Hauser
“Worship you, James,” Paul wrote on Instagram. “I know you’re in Heaven being pampered with love. The Van Der Beeks will more than seemingly be in our day to day prayers and we’ll be drumming up some money to strengthen your vivid household.”
“Thanks for the physique of work,” he added, “and for being with out a doubt one of the apt guys.”
Daniella Karagach
The Dancing With the Stars pro wrote, “Sending so powerful love and prayers.”
Jenna Dewan
“I will frequently and eternally bear in mind your candy gentle soul,” she shared. “My love and prayers with Kim and the total household.”
Chad Michael Murray
“Sending love and lightweight to your vivid household,” the One Tree Hill alum wrote. “James was as soon as a immense. We’re so so so sorry for what you’re going by map of. His phrases, art and humanity inspired all of us- he inspired us to be higher in all ideas. God bless you guys.”
Erin Foster
As she wrote on Instagram, “Sending so powerful wish to your household.”
Rumer Willis
“My dear very perfect associates I much like you all, I am keeping you all in my coronary heart,” she wrote within the feedback of the psot announcing James' passing. “Im so lucky to safe had you in my lifestyles for goodbye. James role the bar as a husband and a father and big brother (to me) I am so grateful to safe witnessed your love and appreciate and take care of each assorted.”
She added, “Sending your total love and lightweight to you all.”
Source credit : eonline.com
