“He and I shared this very amazing time, and it was formational for us,” Jackson said of his former costar.

Joshua Jackson breaks silence on Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek’s death: ‘The processing is ongoing’

"He and I shared this very amazing time, and it was formational for us," Jackson said of his former costar.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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on March 10, 2026 10:48 a.m. ET

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James Van Der Beek and Joshua Jackson on 'Dawson's Creek'. Credit:

Joshua Jackson says mourning his late *Dawson's Creek* costar James Van Der Beek is an "ongoing" process that continues to affect him in multiple ways.

The *Happy Hours* star addressed the passing of his former costar for the first time since Van Der Beek's death nearly a month ago at 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer during an interview on the *Today* show Tuesday.

"I think it hits in a variety of different ways," Jackson told host Craig Melvin. "For me as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So I think the processing is ongoing."

While reflecting on the "very amazing time" costarring on all six seasons of the seminal WB teen drama from 1998-2003 alongside Van Der Beek, the *Fringe *star shared that the experience was "formational" for both stars who quickly became household names over the show's airing. "I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I'm really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life," he added.

Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson on 'Dawson's Creek'.

Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

"He became what we used to just call a good man, a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father," Jackson shared.

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.

Jackson is a father to daughter Juno with ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith, whom they welcomed in April 2020.

Before Van Der Beek's death, the *Dawson's Creek* cast reunited for a September 2025 reunion charity event to benefit F Cancer that the ailing actor wasn't able to attend in person due to "two stomach viruses." Instead, he made a surprise appearance via a prerecorded video.

However, Van Der Beek's wife and their six children attended the charity reunion event in his place, where two of his daughters went onstage to sing the show's theme song — Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait" — with his former costars Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Busy Philipps, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, and Meredith Monroe.

Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes embrace onstage as Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary Beth Peil, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joshua Jackson and Busy Phillips attend the 'Dawson's Creek' Class Reunion in September 2025.

Cindy Ord/Getty

Jackson said coming to Van Der Beek's aid at the reunion was a special moment for him and the cast. "The purpose of it was beautiful, and I think for all of us, it's easy to forget the impact that the show has because your experience of making the show is your experience, right? So for our little crew of people, that's just something that we shared," he shared. "But when you have 1,400 people sitting in a theater... you are reminded that it actually went out there into the world and had impact on other people."

"For us to get together is a bit like a college reunion," Jackson added. "To share that experience with the audience, but also to be able to witness James' kids witness the impact that he had on other people was really impactful."

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Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11, Kimberly announced in a statement on his social media accounts.**** "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," her statement said. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Van Der Beek in 2023.

Rick Kern/Getty

Following his death, the official *Dawson's Creek *account paid tribute to its star on social media by sharing a throwback photo of Van Der Beek with a caption that read, "His iconic portrayal of Dawson Leery helped define a generation of television for fans and continues to resonate with audiences today. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."

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