Michelle Williams has paid tribute to James Van Der Beek, who died of cancer.
After winning the SAG Acting Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series on Sunday for her role in “Dying for Sex,” the actress appeared on “Entertainment Tonight” to reflect on her loss.
When asked if she was thinking about her late Dawson’s Creek co-star when she accepted the award, she said gloomily: “I think about him and his family all the time.
“And as a friend of James and a friend of his family, I want to say that it’s been really amazing to see the response in the wake of his death. I just want to say a huge thank you to each and every person who helped keep myself and my children alive. It’s incredibly meaningful to witness.”
Van Der Beek played the title character Dawson Leery on the WB’s iconic teen drama, while Williams, 45, played Jen Lindley. The show ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003.
The Brokeback Mountain actress’ heartbreaking tribute was announced after Van Der Beek passed away on February 11th after a long battle with colorectal cancer. He was 48 years old.
At the time, the Varsity Blues star’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, said James had “passed away peacefully.”
“He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” she wrote on Instagram.
“He has so much to share about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sanctity of time. That day will come,” Kimberly added. “At this time we ask for peace and privacy as we grieve our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”
James had been battling stage 3 cancer since August 2023.
To help with medical costs, he auctioned off personal “Dawson’s Creek” memorabilia last year, including the necklace his character Joey (played by Katie Holmes) gave him for prom.
Holmes shared a touching handwritten note on social media in memory of her late “Dawson’s Creek” co-star.
“It is sacred to share imaginative space, to breathe the same air in a land of belief, to trust that each other’s minds are safe in expression,” Holmes wrote.
“These are some of the memories, laughter, conversations about life and James Taylor songs – a unique youthful adventure,” she added.
The “Batman Begins” star then highlighted James’ “compassion, courage, selflessness, and strength,” before noting his “appreciation for life through the honesty that life is art.”
Holmes said he would “always be there” for James’ “beautiful” wife and six “beloved children.”
“I mourn this loss mindful of the reality of his absence and deeply grateful for his footprint,” she concluded.
Friends of James have set up a GoFundMe to help his family with expenses following his death. As of this article’s publication, more than $2.7 million has been raised.
