James Van Der Beek Praises Daughter’s Dawson’s Creek Performance

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James Van Der Beek wants the world to know right now how proud he is.

James Van Der Beek, known for his role in *Dawson’s Creek*, is currently fighting stage 3 colorectal cancer and couldn’t attend a recent reunion with his castmates. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children supported him, and James was particularly moved when his oldest daughter, Olivia Van Der Beek, sang a solo during a performance of the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait” by Paula Cole, just before her birthday.

James shared on Instagram that his oldest child turned 15, noting it’s the same age Dawson was when the show began. He expressed how amazed he was watching them confidently perform on stage, surrounded by people he’s known and loved for years.

I used to say you were ‘parent-proof,’ meaning you didn’t need our guidance. But over the past year, watching you grow up so quickly – making big decisions, getting involved in so much, and even managing your time and appearance (which seem to take about the same effort!) – I’m starting to realize that wasn’t just a joke anymore.

Despite admitting everyone makes mistakes, the 48-year-old remembered when his daughter, Olivia, brought her dad to her first high school football game. She then confessed she’d messed up pretty much everything about his ticket. Even so, James found the moment touching, especially because of Olivia’s unexpected reaction to his initial frustration.

He hoped I’d learned to take immediate responsibility, though he admitted that might be optimistic. I quickly owned up to the mistake, explaining it was a first-time occurrence, offered a sincere apology, and then worked to make things right.

As the actor from *Varsity Blues* pointed out, he was more impressed with how someone recovered from a mistake than if they had done everything right from the beginning.

James, who is also a father to Joshua (13), Annabel (11), Emilia (9), Gwendolyn (6), and Jeremiah (2), ended his birthday message with some heartfelt advice.

He finished with, “Don’t be afraid to take risks and aim high. Keep dreaming, and most importantly, stay true to yourself. You’re the only one who can truly define who you are, but knowing you my whole life, I promise you’ll love the person you become.”

Kimberly also expressed her love for her oldest child, commenting with a heart emoji, “Our firstborn baby.”

Oh my god, the reunion in NYC on September 22nd was everything! Seeing James with Katie, Michelle, Joshua… everyone was there to support him and this amazing charity, Fk Cancer. Kimberly was talking about it, and honestly, it just *felt* so full of love inside that theater. She said she was thinking about how much she loves James after 15 years, and how special the whole *Dawson’s Creek* thing still is. It was just… magical. I’m still buzzing about it!

She shared on Instagram how special the night was for her family. It was also a fundraiser for F Cancer, but she especially cherished seeing her husband in the audience and feeling all the love for him.

This is going to take some time to process, 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, in my heart.”

For more on Dawson’s Creek, keep reading.

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

At the 2015 ATX TV Festival, the series creator, Kevin Williamson, explained that they were already having difficulties with the show *Party of Five* and didn’t want to take on another one.

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 creators 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? 

You know, Dawson’s Creek wasn’t just a made-up town! It was actually based on a real place where we all grew up and had a lot of fun as kids. And Pacey? Well, he was inspired by someone completely random – a friend of a friend. I remember the creator saying he’d never even *heard* the name ‘Pacey’ before and just thought it sounded really cool, so he used it!

The show’s creator, Williamson, chose the name Josephine because it felt traditionally feminine but could also be shortened to the more masculine nickname Joey, reflecting the character’s personality.

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 subtle phrase instead.

I remember hearing that before Katie Holmes became everyone’s favorite girl-next-door, another actress – Blair – was *so* close to getting the part! It’s amazing how things can change in Hollywood, isn’t it? She was almost the one!

The character of Joe was originally conceived as a bit of a tough girl, and many of the actresses auditioning brought that energy to the role. We almost cast Selma Blair, who gave a fantastic performance – she portrayed the character as strong but also very heartfelt, according to Williamson.

But when Williamson saw Holmes on video, with his “large eyes,” he immediately realized they’d found the right person for the role of Joey.

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

I was immediately drawn to Josh Jackson’s acting ability – he could convincingly play either Dawson or Pacey, as I told *The Hollywood Reporter*. However, the network felt he wasn’t right for the role of Dawson, and they were probably correct. That’s when I decided he’d be perfect as Pacey, because I was determined to have him on the show no matter what.

I remember when Charlie Hunnam, just 18 years old at the time, auditioned for a drama on the WB back in 1999. He didn’t get the role, unfortunately, but it was at that audition where he first met Katherine Towne, which was pretty cool!

Hunnam and his wife eloped to Las Vegas three weeks after meeting, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2002, which he later described to the Associated Press as “three terrible, painful, expensive years.”

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 advertising, 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.

In 2012, he told The Daily Beast he remembered seeing an advertisement for the movie *The Devil’s Own* starring Brad Pitt. They asked about Pitt’s hairstyle, and that’s what inspired his haircut for the first season.

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 began dating someone the previous year, widely believed to be Michael Jackson. She described falling deeply in love for the first time, calling it an unforgettable experience she’d always cherish. She also expressed gratitude that they’d become close friends, comparing their relationship to the platonic bond between characters Dawson and Joey on the television show *Dawson’s Creek*.

She also shared that he’s a long-time industry veteran who’s been a great help to her. She expressed her respect for him both personally and professionally.

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 was, at the time, 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 revealed that he based every character on the show, even Jack, on aspects of himself.

He explained to *Entertainment Weekly* in 2018 that every character in the show contains a piece of himself. He’d recently come out to his parents in his 20s and wanted to portray that experience – and that part of his identity – through a character on the show.

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.

I was so upset to hear about what happened to a friend of mine. Apparently, he was accidentally outed because of a poem he wrote. Everyone just *knew* it was about a guy, and it gave him away. It was a really tough situation, and I felt terrible for him.

Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps have been best friends ever since they first 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 described her friend as proof that your soulmate doesn’t need to be a romantic partner, calling her ‘the love of my life.’ The two had often attended red carpet events together.

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 for the show, and Van Der Beek marked the occasion by bringing a special gift to set on filming day.

He recalled bringing champagne to celebrate with the crew, explaining, “Dawson finally lost his virginity,” as he told The Daily Beast.

Before becoming famous on *One Tree Hill*, Chad Michael Murray appeared on *Dawson’s Creek* as Charlie, who dated both Jen and Joey.

Although Charlie was sociable, Murray didn’t seem to connect with many people when he first lived in North Carolina, where *OTH* was later filmed.

In a 2009 Paley panel discussion, Philipps referred to him as “a douche,” and then added, “I’m not too concerned about damaging my relationship with CMM.”

Van Der Beek also mentioned that Chad Michael Murray has improved a lot. After the panel, Jennifer Philipps tweeted that she might have been too critical of him, but then decided she was probably right.

Murray, on the other hand, has stayed out of the controversy, mentioning in 2015 that he gained valuable lessons from it.

When I joined the cast of *Dawson’s Creek*, I was lucky enough to learn from people who were a few years ahead of me, like Michelle, James, Katie, and Josh. They’d already been working for five or six years, and were really helpful in showing me how things worked. I was completely new to the technical side of filming – I didn’t even understand lighting! – and I really appreciate them taking the time to teach me everything I needed to know.

Over the years, *Dawson’s Creek* featured a surprising 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.

You know, when I first heard the original plan for the show’s ending, it was totally different! The creator, Williamson, actually pictured a different couple ending up together. But then, about halfway through writing the final episode, he had a real ‘aha’ moment. He realized that pairing wouldn’t actually fit the overall story we were building – it just wasn’t authentic to the show’s vibe. It was a brave decision, but ultimately the right one for the narrative.

He shared at the ATX TV Festival that he aimed to create a fresh take on teen dramas, focusing on authenticity and exploring the idea of soul mates – what they truly mean and how they function. He explained that the story unfolded as it did to ensure a satisfying conclusion, leaving the characters as a complete and happy family, each having achieved their desires. The final scene was designed to feel fulfilling for everyone involved.

He switched his decision right before it was finalized, and the outcome became a famous moment captured on television. However, Williamson revealed that his mother, who supported the opposing team, wasn’t pleased with his choice.

The final episode jumped forward five years and showed the group coping with the heartbreaking loss of Jen.

The death of a main character was meant to mark the group’s complete transition into adulthood. As creator Kevin Williamson explained, the ending of *Dawson’s Creek* focused on coming-of-age themes, and killing off Jen was a deliberate choice to force the characters to confront loss and learn a final, crucial life lesson.

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

Julie Plec (known for *The Vampire Diaries* and *The Originals*), Greg Berlanti (creator of shows like *Everwood*, *Arrow*, *The Flash*, and *Riverdale*, plus several 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 contributed to this project.

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2025-09-26 17:18