‘Dawson’s Creek’ Creator Kevin Williamson Remembers James Van Der Beek in Tribute

Few teen dramas have made as significant an impact as ‘Dawson’s Creek’. The series debuted on The WB on January 20, 1998, chronicling the life of aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery and his friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts.

Created by Kevin Williamson, the character of Dawson was inspired by Williamson’s own teenage experiences. When casting the lead role, he sought someone who resembled a more polished version of himself.

This personal connection added depth to Williamson’s speech on October 3, when he accepted the Barbara Berlanti Hero Award at Greg Berlanti’s annual F Cancer benefit gala in Santa Monica. Reflecting on the late James Van Der Beek, he humorously recalled that the actor “started out as a brat.”

“Dawson’s Creek” creator Kevin Williamson jokes that the late James Van Der Beek “started out as a brat” on the beloved show:

“I saw him go from a young kid to an extraordinary man, a husband, a father and a friend. James had a full character arc. He started out as a brat. He would get a script and he would call me, and he would be like, ‘Why do I have to say this word? Nobody knows what this word means.’ And I would say, ‘Well, don’t worry about it, the way you mumble nobody is going to hear it anyway.’ That was that was our relationship — Dawson talking to Dawson.”

https://t.co/QeoVM77n61

— Variety (@Variety) October 4, 2026

Williamson received the award from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star Joshua Jackson and TV writer-producer Julie Plec. The recognition was for his efforts surrounding a special ‘Dawson’s Creek’ table read aimed at supporting Van Der Beek after his cancer diagnosis and benefiting F Cancer.

Williamson described his initial search for a handsome, camera-ready version of himself, noting that Van Der Beek embodied that ideal. He referred to him as the soul of the show, giving voice to his childhood experiences. Williamson remarked that Van Der Beek was the ultimate upgrade.

He shared how he witnessed Van Der Beek evolve from a young actor into an extraordinary man, a devoted husband, a father, and a friend. To lighten the mood, he joked about Van Der Beek’s character arc, starting as a brat.

Williamson reminisced about how Van Der Beek would call him after receiving scripts, questioning the need to say words that no one understood. Williamson’s playful response was that with Van Der Beek’s mumbling, no one would hear it anyway. He characterized their early interactions as “Dawson talking to Dawson,” as reported by Deadline.

Van Der Beek passed away on February 11 at the age of 48 after battling colorectal cancer. He was diagnosed in 2023, and he made his diagnosis public in 2024. Williamson expressed that losing Van Der Beek was a profound blow, as he lost the man who brought his youth to life.

He also described the September 2025 table read benefit as one of the most memorable nights of his life. Although Van Der Beek could not attend due to travel restrictions from his doctors, Williamson felt his presence was still felt.

Jackson informed the audience that Van Der Beek’s health had declined in the days leading up to the reading. He praised Williamson for dedicating both his time and resources to ensure that Van Der Beek’s family was honored, allowing the actor’s children to be surrounded by people celebrating their father.

The evening also served as a mini reunion, with Jackson joined by co-star Mary-Margaret Humes, while Williamson, Plec, and Berlanti were also present. The gathering was described as emotional, with both Jackson and Plec becoming teary-eyed while discussing Van Der Beek.

Williamson also reflected on his mother, who died of lung cancer, sharing her discontent with Joey choosing Pacey over Dawson. He intertwined personal memories with on-screen narratives, highlighting how Van Der Beek embodied the character of Dawson.

Rolling Stone’s tribute noted that the series thrived largely due to Van Der Beek, who made Dawson’s earnestness resonate from the very first episode. This sentiment was clearly echoed by everyone present that night.

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