A new series featuring James Van Der Beek’s final TV role comes with a tribute to the late actor. Best known to many as Dawson Leery from Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek helped define late-90s teen drama. From Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 to What Would Diplo Do?, he took on varied roles that moved beyond typecasting and demonstrated range.
How the Legally Blonde prequel honors James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek’s final screen credit comes in the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle. Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 48, following a battle with colorectal cancer. The Texas Rangers star was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in August 2023.
The character Dean Wilson makes his first appearance in the third installment of Elle. The episode’s final moments feature an onscreen dedication prior to the credits that reads, “In loving memory of James Van Der Beek.”
Established as a prequel to the hit movie Legally Blonde, the story of the series follows main character Elle as she goes through high school. Original Elle actress Reese Witherspoon produces the series while Lexi Minetree plays the young Elle Woods. In the show, mayoral candidate Dean Wilson forms a friendship with Elle’s mom, Eva, portrayed by June Diane Raphael.
Speaking to The Post about his experience with Van Der Beek, Elle co-star Jacob Moskovitz said, “We didn’t have a ton of overlap, but he sat and ate lunch with us and talked with us. And he was just an absolute light on our set, and we miss him very much. We’re really honored that he was a part of the show” (via Page Six).
Meanwhile, Raphael told TV Insider that the Final Draft actor often spoke about his family. She noted that he frequently shared anecdotes about his kids during downtime, revealing his commitment as a parent and partner.
James Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six kids, Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3. Elle is now streaming on Prime Video.
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on ComingSoon.
