![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4e7449612dd9abce468909493ac5404c83-dawsonscreek-joshua-james.rsquare.w330.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Photo: Everett Collection\n <\/p>\n
One month after the death of James Van Der Beek<\/a>, his Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/a> co-star Joshua Jackson<\/a> reflected on their friendship during an interview with The Today<\/a> Show. He shared that most of his grief stemmed from thinking as a father rather than as one of Van Der Beek\u2019s colleagues; Jackson is a father of a 5-year-old daughter, and Van Der Beek has six children. \u201cI think it hits in a variety of different ways,\u201d Jackson explained. \u201cFor me as a father now, the enormity of that tragedy hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague, so I think the processing is ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n The two grew up together on Dawson\u2019s Creek and worked together for six seasons as they rose to stardom. But because he knows the importance of fatherhood in Van Der Beek\u2019s life, it felt like their time onscreen came second. He added, \u201cIt was formative for us. And I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness. But I will also say is I know that I\u2019m just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life.\u201d Jackson then applauded his parenting. \u201cHe became what we used to just call a \u2018good man,\u2019 a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, right?,\u201d he wrote. \u201cJust a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father. And so while on the one hand that\u2019s beautiful and I think he did lead a very good life and he was a good man, it is also, the tragedy of that loss for his family is enormous.\u201d<\/p>\n Jackson isn\u2019t the only Dawson\u2019s Creek star who\u2019s kept Van Der Beek\u2019s memory close. During the Actor Awards earlier this month, on March 1, Michelle Williams said<\/a> she was \u201cthinking about him and \u2026 his family constantly.\u201d Katie Holmes wrote<\/a> a tribute by hand to her former co-star in which she lauded his family, saying, \u201cThese are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs \u2014 adventures of a unique youth\u2026 Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art \u2014 creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children \u2013 the journey of a hero.\u201d At the time of his death, Van Der Beek\u2019s family shared<\/a> a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses, raising more than $2.7 million.<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n