Michelle Williams has opened up about her Dawson’s Creek co-star, the late James Van Der Beek. Her heartwarming words came weeks after the actor died following his long battle with cancer. Their show was regarded as one of the best coming-of-age television dramas in the late ‘90s.
Michelle Williams says she is constantly thinking about James Van Der Beek’s family
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight at The 32nd Actor Awards (formerly SAG Awards), Michelle Williams was asked about her late co-star, James Van Der Beek.
“I’m thinking about him and I’m thinking about his family constantly,” the Manchester by the Sea actress said. “I also just want to say, like, it’s been such an amazing thing as James’s friend and a friend of the family to see the response in the wake of his passing. I just really want to say thank you to each and every person who contributed to sustaining their life and their children’s lives. It’s an incredibly meaningful thing to witness.”
Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, at age 48, due to colorectal cancer. The family broke the news on Instagram. He was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer in 2023, which was later made public in 2024.
In November 2025, the Varsity Blue actor auctioned his Dawson’s Creek memorabilia to cover the cost of the treatment. And after his death, friends of the family launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family’s expenses. As for writing, it has raised over $2.75 million from over 51,000 donations.
Williams and Van Der Beek both starred in the 1998 hit series, Dawson’s Creek, as Jen Lindley and Dawson Leery, respectively. The cast also included Katie Holmes as Joey Potter, Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter, and Mary Beth Peil as Evelyn “Grams” Ryan.
The show followed four close-knit friends as they navigate through school, romance, heartbreak, and their journey into adulthood. It was a highly successful show, drawing an average of 6 million viewers during its run, according to the BBC. In the U.S., all six seasons of the show are streaming on Hulu, Netflix, and a few other platforms.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on ComingSoon.
