Katie Holmes Honors Dawson’s Creek Costar James Van Der Beek After His Death at 48. He Is Beloved.

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This article includes images obtained from a third party source (people.com).

James Van Der Beek and Katie Holmes appear in these images.

Image credits belong to Jim Spellman for WireImage and the Everett Collection.

Katie Holmes is mourning the loss of her longtime friend and Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek, who died on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at age 48. Her tribute is personal, reflective, and deeply emotional.

Holmes shared a handwritten message on Instagram, explaining that the loss was difficult to process. She said she wrote her words with a heavy heart. Her message focused on gratitude, shared history, and the bond they formed while working together.

She expressed how meaningful it was to be part of Van Der Beek’s life and creative journey. She described him as deeply loved and admired. Holmes also addressed his family directly, offering support to his wife Kimberly and their six children. She made it clear that she and others would continue to stand by them.

In her tribute, Holmes spoke directly to Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery on the series from 1998 to 2003. She reflected on the experience of working alongside him, calling it sacred. She described the trust, imagination, and emotional safety they shared while creating the show.

She recalled moments filled with laughter and long conversations about life. She mentioned music, including James Taylor songs, and described their time together as a unique and formative period of youth. These memories, she wrote, remain vivid and meaningful.

Holmes highlighted Van Der Beek’s personal qualities. She described his compassion, bravery, selflessness, and strength. She also praised his appreciation for life and his belief that life itself is a form of art. She pointed to his marriage and his devotion to his six children as part of what defined him.

She shared that she grieves with an awareness of his absence, while also holding deep gratitude for the impact he had on her life. She ended her message by reaffirming her support for Kimberly and the children, promising ongoing love and compassion.

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023. He publicly shared his diagnosis the following year and continued to work and engage with fans while undergoing treatment.

On Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek starred as Dawson, an aspiring filmmaker searching for love and purpose. His character’s central relationship was with Joey Potter, played by Holmes. The series also starred Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter and Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley. Busy Philipps joined the cast in season 5 as Audrey Liddell. The ensemble also included Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, and Meredith Monroe.

Busy Philipps was among the first cast members to publicly honor Van Der Beek. She shared throwback photos from their time on the show and described him as one in a billion. She wrote about the pain felt by everyone who knew him, worked with him, or admired his work.

Philipps said her heartbreak was greatest for Kimberly and their children. She encouraged fans to support a GoFundMe created for the family. She spoke openly about her grief and her gratitude for their long friendship.

Mary Margaret Humes, who played Dawson’s mother on the series, also shared a tribute. She posted a recent photo with Van Der Beek alongside one from years earlier. She described him as a gracious warrior who faced illness with strength and dignity. She shared that their final conversations were deeply meaningful to her and asked fans to respect the family’s request for privacy.

In September 2025, the Dawson’s Creek cast reunited in New York City for a one night charity event. The live reading of the pilot episode benefited F Cancer and Van Der Beek. He was unable to attend in person due to health concerns but appeared in a prerecorded video message.

In the Series, Van Der Beek thanked the cast, crew, and fans. He expressed how humbled he felt by the support and generosity shown that night. He called the fans the best in the world and shared his sincere gratitude.

His words, like those shared by Holmes and his castmates, reflected the lasting impact he had on the people around him.