Katie Holmes Honors “Beloved” James Van Der Beek After His Death

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Dawson and Joey forever.  

Following the passing of her former Dawson’s Creek co-star, James Van Der Beek, on February 11th, Katie Holmes remembered their time together and shared a tribute to her friend.

In a handwritten note shared on Instagram on February 12th, Katie thanked James, writing about how special it was to share his imaginative world. She described it as a safe and inspiring place filled with laughter, meaningful conversations, and the music of James Taylor – memories she cherished from a unique time in their lives.

Katie also mentioned that her colleague consistently showed kindness, courage, and a willingness to put others first, along with inner strength.

She described his life as a beautiful work of art, filled with love – a wonderful marriage and six children – and a courageous journey. She is deeply saddened by his passing, feeling both the pain of his loss and immense thankfulness for the positive impact he had on her life.

As Katie shared, she penned her note from forming “some words with a heavy heart.”

“This is a lot to take in,” she wrote with her post. “I’m so thankful I got to be a part of James’ life. Everyone loves him.” She also sent her love and support to his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, saying, “Kimberly, we love you and will always be here for you and your wonderful kids.”

Katie shared a heartfelt message after James’ family announced his death, following a long fight with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning, according to a statement posted on his Instagram account on February 11th. The statement, shared with a photo of the actor, noted that he faced his final days with courage, faith, and grace. His family plans to share more about his wishes and values later, but currently asks for privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

I was a huge Dawson’s Creek fan, and I always loved watching James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery! He played opposite Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams for six seasons, from 1998 to 2003, and it was amazing to watch them all grow up. What a lot of people don’t realize is that James is a dad to six kids – Olivia, who’s 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and little Jeremiah, who’s 4 – with his wife, Kimberly. It’s wonderful to see how much his family has grown over the years!

When James announced his cancer diagnosis in 2024, his co-stars and crew from Dawson’s Creek came together to support him.

Last September, cast members from the show, including Mary-Margaret Humes, John Wesley Shipp, and Busy Philipps, got together in New York City for a special live reunion. They performed a live reading of the first episode as a charity event. Unfortunately, James couldn’t attend due to illness, so Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to play his part.

Even so, the Varsity Blues actor made sure to express his thanks to his old colleagues and fans.

In a video message, James expressed his disappointment at missing the event, where his family was present. He said he was sad to not be able to see his fellow cast members in person and wished he could be on stage to personally thank everyone for attending.

After the event, Katie posted a heartfelt message celebrating her colleagues Josh, James, and Michelle, calling them wonderful people.

She shared a video from the evening on Instagram in September with a heartfelt message: “To our journey together, and our lasting connection. James, Josh, Michelle… I’ve loved you since April 1997. James, we believe in you, and we’re here for you. We’re so grateful to everyone who has supported us and continues to support James and his family. Thank you for a wonderful night.”

Returning the love to Katie, James replied, “Love you! Thank you for being you.” 

For more stars who paid tribute to James, keep reading…

I usually know what to say, but today I’m speechless,” wrote Mary, known for playing James’ mother on Dawson’s Creek. “James, you were a truly graceful and strong fighter. You faced an incredibly difficult challenge with such peace and dignity, and I will always love and admire you for it.

Honestly, our last chats… just a few days ago… I’m holding onto every single word, cherishing them forever. And to everyone who loved Kimberly on Dawson’s Creek like I do, please, please respect that she and her family need space and quiet right now. They’ve asked for privacy, and we absolutely need to give it to them. It’s the least we can do.

Krysten shared sad news on Instagram, saying, “Really hard news today.” She expressed her love for James, who she worked with on the show Don’t Trust the B In Apartment 23 – where he played a comedic version of himself – and added, “Love you so much James and fake James.”

Fashion designer shared a heartfelt tribute to Brother James, remembering him as ‘Uncle James’ to their family. They expressed gratitude for his unwavering friendship, his constant support, and his willingness to always go above and beyond. They recalled how he was there for them during difficult times, like bringing a shovel when their dog passed away, and celebrated with them during joyful moments, being among the first to visit when their children were born, alongside @vanderkimberly. He wasn’t just present for their milestones, he truly shared in them.

It meant so much to be your friend and share time with you,” she said. “We’ll miss you terribly, and nothing will ever feel quite the same. We promise to love and support your family, and we’ll always remember your love of life and dancing as a way to honor your memory. We love you, and we always will.

A former costar of James on Dawson’s Creek shared how thankful they were to have known him as a brother, adding that they will miss him very much and wished him peace.

It’s a really sad day for everyone who knew and loved James – his friends, fans, and those who supported him through his illness, particularly his family. I’m especially heartbroken for his wife, Kimberly, and their six children,” Busy Phillips, a former colleague, shared in a post.

She shared her deep sadness over the loss of James Van Der Beek, calling him a truly unique and irreplaceable person. She expressed her love for him and cherished the many years of their friendship, admitting she was heartbroken and struggling to find the words to express her grief.

“Had the good fortune of knowing and growing with this guy,” Ashton wrote in a post on X. “Rip.”

The star and writer of Overcompensating, having previously collaborated with James on a Prime Video series, shared a tribute on Instagram calling him “A legend in every way.”

The Dancing With the Stars professional shared a heartfelt message, calling the deceased a wonderful father, husband, artist, and all-around amazing person, and offered condolences to his family.

The actor shared that working with James many years ago was a wonderful experience, describing him as one of the kindest, wisest, and most generous people he’s ever collaborated with. He praised James’ lasting impact and sent his condolences.

 

Following the news of the Dawson’s Creek actor’s passing, the writer of Hamilton posted a family photo from the show’s 2025 reunion, expressing his support for the Van Der Beek family with the message, “My heart goes out to the Van Der Beeks today.”

She shared on Instagram that I demonstrated faith in God’s plan, even through painful experiences, and particularly when those experiences were heartbreaking.

She went on to say that they’d watched the sunset together recently, and during that time, he’d shared his thoughts, dreams, and the commitments they’d made to one another. They talked about how chaotic life can feel, and how perhaps he was needed in heaven to bring balance. Right as the sun disappeared, a shooting star streaked across the sky, feeling like a sign that everything happens for a reason.

As she put it, “You are a gift.”

She shared on Instagram how deeply saddened she was by the loss, calling the person a beautiful soul. She sent her condolences and prayers to the family, offering support during this difficult time, and letting them know others are there for them.

The former Grey’s Anatomy star shared that she was feeling heartbroken, and sent her love, support, and strength to Kimberly Van Der Berg with a message on social media.

The actress expressed her deep sadness, writing, “Sending so much love to Kimberly and her children during this difficult time.”

She remembered him as a genuinely kind person whose love for his family was clear to everyone. “I’m so sorry for the loss of such a wonderful man,” she said, “and my heart goes out to his family, whom he cherished.”

She started by calling him a beautiful soul, and said that everyone who knew him was deeply touched by his kindness and wisdom. She spoke about his loving family and the incredibly special bond he shared with Kimberly, a connection that felt like it lasted beyond this life. She always considered him the wisest person she knew, and cherished every piece of advice and life lesson he had shared with her.

She went on, saying she could hardly express how beautifully he wrote. His words reminded everyone what it felt like to experience genuine tenderness. She shared how deeply loved and missed James was, admitting her heart was broken and that the pain would likely stay with them all for a long time.

You know, seeing Kimberly and James together just fills my heart. As a longtime fan, I can honestly say they’re the most loving couple I’ve ever witnessed, and it’s beautiful to see. I, along with so many others, am sending all our love and support to Kimberly and her precious babies, and I’ll always be there for them, no matter what.

She shared on Instagram that she was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of James Vanderkamp. She remembered him as a kind person, a devoted father, and a talented actor, fondly recalling him as her first on-screen kiss during his appearance on ‘Clarissa Explains It All’.

She shared that he passed away too young, but fought bravely. They met about two years ago on the show #WeAreFamily, where he performed with his daughter and was a supportive father. She’s sending her condolences to his wife, six children, and the rest of his family.

The Dancing with the Stars professional, who partnered with James during season 28 of the show, shared a heartfelt message saying she was heartbroken by his passing. She wrote that he would always be family and expressed her deep love for him, adding that he should be proud of the person he was. She was grateful she had the chance to say goodbye.

“I’m so sorry,” she wrote. “My prayers are with you and your beautiful family.”

She said the news was incredibly upsetting, and expressed her deepest condolences for their loss, offering a blessing to the family.

Paul shared a heartfelt message on Instagram to James, saying, “Love you, James. I know you’re in Heaven, being well-loved.” He also said his family would be praying for the Van Der Beeks and would be working to raise money to help James’s family. Paul finished by thanking James for his contributions and remembering him as a genuinely good person.

The Dancing With the Stars pro wrote, “Sending so much love and prayers.”

She said she would never forget his kind and gentle spirit. She also sent her love and prayers to Kim and the whole family.

The One Tree Hill actor shared their condolences, writing, “Sending all my love and support to your family.” They described the deceased as a remarkable person, adding, “We are so incredibly sorry for your loss. He inspired us all with his words, creativity, and kindness, and encouraged us to be our best selves. Sending blessings to you all.”

As she wrote on Instagram, “Sending so much love to your family.”

She shared in the comments following the announcement of James’ death, “I love you all, my wonderful friends, and I’m holding you all in my thoughts. I feel so fortunate to have had you in my life for so many years. James was an incredible husband, father, and brother figure to me, and I’m deeply grateful to have seen the love, respect, and care you all shared.”

She added, “Sending all the love and light to you all.”

The Dancing with the Stars host shared on Instagram that they are heartbroken. They expressed gratitude for having a special someone in their life and were thankful they could say goodbye.

She expressed her deep sadness for the family on Instagram, acknowledging that while James will be remembered fondly, his death is a devastating loss for both them and the world. She ended with a heartfelt message of anger towards cancer.

She shared her love in the comments, writing, “Sending so much love. I’m so sorry.”

The Lemonade Mouth actress left a heartfelt message on James’ family’s post about his passing, saying she was deeply sorry for their loss. She remembered him as a kind and loving person whose positive spirit would be missed but remembered.

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2026-02-12 14:48