Joshua Jackson penned a touching tribute to his longtime friend and Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek, who passed away on February 11, 2026, at age 48 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer. Jackson shared his first public comments on March 10, 2026, via Instagram, reflecting on their deep bond forged during the late 1990s teen drama that launched their careers. The heartfelt message came weeks after Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced his death, noting he faced his final days with courage, faith, and grace. Joshua Jackson’s personal reflections Joshua Jackson, 47, opened up about the man behind the iconic Dawson Leery role. “There are no words for this kind of loss. JVDB was the brother I never had, the friend who always had my back, and the guy who made every day on set feel like an adventure,” Jackson wrote.
“He brought light to every room, heart to every scene, and love to every life he touched.” He recalled their shared youth on the Wilmington, North Carolina, set. “We were kids figuring out fame, love, and life under bright lights, but Jimmy always kept it real. His laugh, his stories, his unshakeable kindness, those are the things I’ll carry forever,” Jackson continued. “To Kimberly and the kids, your family is our family. We’re here, always.” Jackson ended with a nod to Van Der Beek’s resilience. “Rest easy, brother. You fought like a champion, loved like a poet, and lived like no one else. The creek may have dried up, but your spirit flows on.”
James Van Der Beek’s final journey
James Van Der Beek revealed his colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, sharing he had managed it privately since 2023. Diagnosed at stage 3 after bowel changes he initially blamed on diet, he underwent surgery and chemotherapy while raising his six children. He auctioned career memorabilia to cover treatment costs, raising nearly $1.3 million. Kimberly Van Der Beek posted on her Instagram, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
A lasting legacy
The Dawson’s Creek cast rallied after the news. Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Busy Philipps shared memories online. Van Der Beek starred as Dawson Leery from 1998 to 2003 opposite Jackson’s Pacey Witter, a role that defined teen TV. His film work included Varsity Blues and a memorable “Welcome to Fark” meme. He appeared in ‘Pose’, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, and ‘CSI’ Off-screen, Van Der Beek advocated for early cancer screenings at age 45, citing subtle symptoms like fatigue and neuropathy. His publicist Whitney Tancred confirmed details to outlets like CBS News. Joshua Jackson’s words capture the profound loss felt across Hollywood, where friendships from small-screen days endure beyond the credits.
