Remembering James Van Der Beek

If I could only watch one TV show for the rest of my life, I would choose Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003).

Although the show came out before I was born, my mother watched it when she was in high school and introduced it to me when I was 14. 

When I am having a bad day, I turn on Dawson’s Creek and find myself getting lost in the articulate dialogue between a group of teenagers in the late 90s.

James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery, became the face of my favorite series. Dawson was passionate about film, striving to become a filmmaker while navigating relationships and friendships during high school and college. 

Dawson’s Creek portrays important aspects of adolescent life, and I found myself connecting with many of the characters throughout the series. Dawson was a writer, and I connected with his passion to produce creative pieces for an audience to connect with.

James suffered from stage-3 colon cancer for around two years and I was devastated after hearing about his passing. My teenage years consisted of watching James portray a teenage boy navigating through life struggles with his friends.

Katie Holmes, who played Joey Potter in the series, posted a handwritten letter dedicated to James which received over 700,000 likes and 19,000 shares. 

The note stood out to me, as she wrote, “Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art - creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children - the journey of a Hero.”

James was more than an actor. He was a father, husband, friend, and creator. He brought joy to those who watched his art, and he portrayed all his characters with charisma and love. 

Some of his other works include Angus (1995), Varsity Blues (1999), and Texas Rangers (2001). He will live on through his beloved characters, especially Dawson Leery. 

In one of his last videos on Instagram, he explains how he believes we should make New Year’s resolutions in the spring rather than the winter:

“Why are we celebrating new beginnings at a time when nature rests? Animals are hibernating, birds fly south for the winter. The time to celebrate a new beginning, a new you, and a new resolution is in the spring at the vernal equinox when the flowers bloom and it gets warmer and the birds return… I’m going to take the winter to recover, to rest, and I’m going to make New Year’s resolutions in the spring. Who’s with me?”

He was not able to fulfill his resolutions this spring, but I will take action for him. I strive to never take my loved ones for granted, do what I enjoy because I enjoy doing it, and allow myself to be creative. If James taught me anything, it’s to love and create deeply and unapologetically.