James Van Der Beek’s Wife Details Dawson’s Creek Reunion

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James Van Der Beek‘s wife Kimberly Van Der Beek doesn’t want to wait to share her gratitude.

Kimberly described attending the recent *Dawson’s Creek* cast reunion with her and James’ children as a special experience, especially since James was unable to travel from Texas to New York due to stomach viruses he contracted while battling colorectal cancer.

Kimberly shared on Instagram after the event that it was a wonderful night for her family. She especially loved seeing her husband surrounded by so much support in the theater, as the event also raised money for the charity F Cancer.

It’s going to take some time to process everything, but I’m so grateful for all the kindness, support, and prayers,” she said, touching her heart. “My husband is always right here with me.”

She told James about a recent phone call where she relived memories of the show’s first episode with many of the original cast members, including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps. She also expressed how thankful she was for them all.

She said the whole cast was incredible. She added that no amount of thanks could truly express how much she appreciated their support.

She especially praised Michelle as the driving force behind the evening, and thanked Michelle’s husband, Thomas Kail, for making so many of the group’s dreams come true on the trip, affectionately calling them “angel humans.” Thomas, who directed *Hamilton*, did even more: he arranged for the event to be held at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York and also convinced Lin-Manuel Miranda to step in for James.

Kimberly said it was a lovely evening, and expressed how much she misses her husband, adding that she’s looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow.

Although James couldn’t be there in person, he joined via a pre-recorded video and explained he’d been eagerly anticipating the event for months.

James shared in a video how disappointed he was to miss being there. He said he was really looking forward to seeing his fellow cast members in person and wished he could be on stage to thank everyone in the audience for coming.

Despite this, his fans still heard his appreciation, as he told them, “You’re the best fans in the world!”

I was so bummed James couldn’t be with us in person, but he did send in a fantastic video message! He shared that he’d been eagerly anticipating this event for months, and you could really feel his excitement even through the screen. It was wonderful to have him ‘join’ us that way.

Honestly, it breaks my heart not being there tonight. As someone who thrives on connection, especially with the incredible people I work with, missing out on seeing my castmates in person is really tough. I truly wanted to be on that stage, looking out at all of you and personally thanking every single person in the audience for your support. It means the world!

Okay, so even though there was all this craziness going on, he *still* managed to talk to us! He looked right at the crowd and said, ‘You are the best fans in the world!’ Seriously, I almost lost it. It’s like he *knew* we were all there for him, and it just meant everything. I replay that moment in my head constantly, honestly. It was perfect.

For more on the show that started it all, read on.

While Fox was first to pick up Dawson’s Creek, it subsequently dumped the teen drama. 

At the 2015 ATX TV Festival, the show’s creator, Kevin Williamson, explained that executives felt the show *Party of Five* had faced challenges and they didn’t want to take on another similar project.

But that paved the way for The WB to pick it up two years later.

Although Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait” is famously known as the theme song for *Dawson’s Creek*, the show’s producers initially preferred Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket.”

Alas, they couldn’t land the rights, what a jagged little pill.

Dawson. Pacey. Joey. Not names you hear every day. So how did Williamson come up with them? 

In a 2018 interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, Dawson explained that the town in the show was based on a real place called Dawson’s Creek where he and his friends spent their childhoods. He said the character Pacey was inspired by someone he’d heard about – a friend of a friend – and he simply liked the unusual name.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE what the creator said about Josephine! She wanted a name that felt super sweet and feminine, but also one that could totally work if Josephine decided to be a bit of a tough girl – like, she could go by Joey! It’s just…perfect. It shows how complex she is, you know?

Remember Dawson’s infamous “walk the dog” line in the pilot?

In 1998, the network prohibited the use of the word “masturbate,” so Williamson used a more indirect phrase instead.

Before Katie Holmes became famous as America’s sweetheart, someone else – Blair – was very close to getting the part.

The character of Joe was originally conceived as a bit of a tomboy, and many of the actresses auditioning brought that energy to the role. We almost cast Selma Blair, who gave a fantastic audition. She portrayed the character as strong but also very heartfelt,” Williamson explained to *The Hollywood Reporter*.

I swear, the moment I saw footage of Holmes – those huge, expressive eyes just captivated me! It was instant. I *knew* right then and there, that was our Joey. There was no question, no doubt – it had to be him. I was absolutely certain!

Williamson liked Joshua Jackson so much, he didn’t care what role the Mighty Ducks alum played.

Okay, so listen, I was completely obsessed with Josh Jackson from the start. Seriously, he could have played *either* Dawson or Pacey and completely nailed it, I just *knew* it. But the network was right to say he wasn’t a Dawson – he just didn’t *feel* right for that role, you know? And honestly, I was SO relieved! I was determined to have him on the show *somehow*, so when they said he’d be Pacey, I was like, YES! Perfect. It just *worked*. I needed him on my screen, no matter what role it was!

In 1999, a young Charlie Hunnam, then 18 years old, auditioned for a drama on The WB. Although he wasn’t cast in the role, he met Katherine Towne during the audition process.

Hunnam and his wife eloped to Las Vegas just three weeks after meeting, but their marriage didn’t last. As he later told the Associated Press, it ended after three difficult and costly years in 2002.

Dawson’s Creek became so popular that American Eagle inked a deal in 2000 to outfit the actors.

Throughout the third season, the show’s characters were primarily dressed in American Eagle clothing. The cast also promoted the brand in ad campaigns, which helped American Eagle earn over $105 million in 2001.

When James Van Der Beek was first cast, the studio wanted him to change his hair.

Oh my god, I remember reading this interview with the costume designer! They were talking about how they got the look for the show, and they said they found an ad for *The Devil’s Own* – you know, that Brad Pitt movie? Apparently, someone asked what Brad Pitt’s haircut was like in the ad, and that’s literally how they decided what my hair would look like in season one! I was obsessed with that movie at the time, and I totally didn’t even realize they based my character’s hair on Brad Pitt! It’s amazing!

Early in the series, Holmes and Jackson were a couple, before Pacey and Joey started developing feelings for each other.

In a 1998 interview with *Rolling Stone*, Holmes revealed she met someone the previous year – subtly acknowledging it was Michael Jackson. She described falling in love for the first time, calling it an unforgettable experience she’d always cherish. She also expressed gratitude that they’ve remained close friends, joking that their relationship now resembles the platonic connection between characters Dawson and Joey from the TV show *Dawson’s Creek*.

She also shared that he’s a long-time veteran of the industry and has been a great help to her. She expressed her respect for him both as a friend and a colleague.

When Kerr Smith agreed to play Joey’s boyfriend on the show, he didn’t realize his character would later come out as gay and be featured in what would become the first gay kiss ever shown on television.

“I always knew I wanted Jack to come out of the closet, but I didn’t even tell [Smith],” Williamson said at the ATX TV Festival. “Let the audience love him, then let’s have him come out of the closet and have Joey have to deal with that—and then that would eventually drive her back to [Dawson].”

Interestingly, Williamson has revealed that he based every character on the show, even Jack, on aspects of himself.

He explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that he incorporates a part of himself into every character. He’d recently come out to his parents in his 20s and wanted to portray that experience through a character on the show, allowing him to represent that personal journey and side of himself.

The episode where Jack came out was based on a real-life story and was written with help from both Williamson and producer Greg Berlanti.

Berlanti shared a story about a friend who was unintentionally outed. According to Berlanti, it happened because a love poem the friend wrote was obviously about a man, making his feelings clear to others.

Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps have been best friends ever since they met on the set of *Dawson’s Creek*, and their close bond continues today.

In 2016, while at a screening of *Manchester by the Sea*, Williams told *People* magazine how much she loves her close friend. She explained that this friend proves you don’t need a romantic partner to find the love of your life, calling her ‘the love of my life.’

Philipps is also godmother to Williams’ daughter Matilda Ledger, who was born in 2005.

The episode where Dawson lost his virginity was a major event, and actor Van Der Beek marked the occasion by bringing a special gift to the set on filming day.

He recalled bringing champagne to celebrate with the cast and crew, joking that it was because ‘Dawson finally lost his virginity,’ as he told The Daily Beast.

I remember when Chad Michael Murray first caught my eye! Before he became everyone’s favorite on *One Tree Hill*, he was actually on *Dawson’s Creek*. He played Charlie, and he was a really sweet love interest for both Jen and Joey. It was a smaller role, but I definitely noticed him even then!

Although Charlie was sociable, Murray didn’t seem to connect with many people during his initial time in North Carolina, where *OTH* was later filmed.

At a Paley panel discussion in 2009, Philipps referred to him with a harsh term, later adding that she wasn’t concerned about damaging her relationship with CMM.

Van Der Beek commented that Chad Michael Murray has improved a lot. After the panel discussion, Philipps tweeted that she might have been too critical of Murray, but then decided she probably wasn’t.

Murray hasn’t caused any trouble, stating in 2015 that he gained valuable lessons from the situation.

When I joined the cast of *Dawson’s Creek*, I was lucky enough to learn from more experienced actors like Michelle, James, Katie, and Josh. They’d been working for five or six years, maybe even longer, and were always willing to help me understand things. I was completely new to the technical side of filming – I didn’t even know how lighting worked! – and I really appreciate them taking the time to show me the ropes. I’m very grateful for that experience.”

Over the years, *Dawson’s Creek* featured a number of well-known actors, including future stars like Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Julie Bowen, Scott Foley, Jensen Ackles, Hilarie Burton, Rachel Leigh Cook, Ali Larter, and Oliver Hudson.

Young Americans was a brief television series that followed Will Krudski (played by Rodney Scott), a friend of Pacey, and his experiences with fellow students at Rawley Academy, a boarding school.

Also starring Ian Somerhalder and Kate Bosworth, it was canceled after just one season.

The central romantic conflict of the show wrapped up in the 2003 finale when Joey ultimately chose Pacey.

Originally, the creator had planned for a different character to end up with the romantic lead. However, while writing the final episode, he decided that pairing wouldn’t fit the overall story he was trying to tell.

He shared at the ATX TV Festival that he aimed to create something fresh within the teen genre-a story that felt genuine, surprising, and explored the idea of soul mates in a new way. He explained that the ending was designed to show the characters as a complete family, with everyone achieving their desired outcomes and finding happiness. Ultimately, the goal was to provide a fulfilling conclusion for all involved.

He unexpectedly changed his decision, and the outcome became a widely discussed moment. Williamson later revealed his mother, a member of Team Dawson, wasn’t pleased with how things turned out.

The final episode jumped forward in time five years, and the group was shown grappling with the heartbreaking death of Jen.

As a storyteller, I always believed *Dawson’s Creek* needed a truly defining moment to signal the characters’ full transition into adulthood. That’s why we made the difficult decision to have Jen pass away. It wasn’t about shock value; it was about forcing them to confront a loss within their close circle – that final, heartbreaking lesson that really solidifies the end of childhood and the beginning of true adulthood. It felt like the most honest way to conclude their journey.

Some of the executive producers who get their start on Dawson’s? 

Julie Plec, known for creating shows like *The Vampire Diaries* and *The Originals*, Greg Berlanti (who’s brought us *Everwood*, *Arrow*, *The Flash*, *Riverdale*, and many films), Rob Thomas (*Veronica Mars* and *iZombie*), Jenny Bicks (*Sex and the City*), Anna Fricke (*Being Human*), Dana Baratta (*Jessica Jones*), and numerous other talented writers have all contributed to the world of teen dramas.

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2025-09-23 22:18