Dawson's Creek Creator Recalls James Van Der Beek's Early On-Set 'Bratty' Behavior

Kevin Williamson, the creator of the iconic teen drama "Dawson's Creek," recounted fond, yet playfully critical, memories of lead actor James Van Der Beek during his early days on the show. Williamson spoke at the Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala in Santa Monica, California, where he was honored with the Hero Award.

Williamson described Van Der Beek, who died in February at age 48 from colorectal cancer, as having been a "brat" when they first began working together. He recalled instances where the young actor would question dialogue. "He would get a script and he would call me, and he would be like, 'Why do I have to say this word? Nobody knows what this word means,'" Williamson shared.

Williamson, who also lost his mother to lung cancer, responded with his own playful jabs, telling Van Der Beek, "Well, don’t worry about it, the way you mumble nobody is going to hear it anyway."

The "Dawson's Creek" creator became emotional when discussing Van Der Beek's performance, which he felt mirrored his own teenage experiences. "James had a full character arc," Williamson stated, adding that Van Der Beek "gave voice to my childhood, he was the soul of the show." He reflected on their long acquaintance, seeing Van Der Beek grow from a young actor into a dedicated husband, father, and friend.

According to Deadline, Williamson mentioned that Van Der Beek's death "really knocked me over." He spoke of a recent table read benefit, calling it "one of the most special nights of my life," despite Van Der Beek's absence. "The only thing missing was James. He was meant to be there," Williamson said, explaining that doctors had not permitted Van Der Beek to travel but that he had still "showed up that night with his unshakable courage and his spirit."

Williamson accepted the award in memory of his mother and of James Van Der Beek, dedicating it to the "entire Dawson's Creek family."

The Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala raises funds for F Cancer's initiatives focused on early detection, prevention, and psychosocial support for cancer patients. The event was founded by TV producer Greg Berlanti, who also worked on "Dawson's Creek," in honor of his late mother.

"Dawson's Creek" ran for six seasons, concluding in 2003. The series launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, and Van Der Beek. Van Der Beek's role as Dawson Leery cemented his status as a teen heartthrob and coincided with his appearances in films such as "Varsity Blues" and "The Rules of Attraction."

Joshua Jackson, who presented the award to Williamson along with TV writer-producer Julie Plec, became visibly moved while recounting Williamson's efforts to organize a "Dawson's Creek" table read to support Van Der Beek following his cancer diagnosis. Jackson explained that Williamson "opened up not only his heart for making sure that everybody was okay, but also his wallet to make sure that we were able to honor James and honor his family at this event."

Van Der Beek publicly shared his diagnosis of colorectal cancer in November 2024, stating he was privately managing the illness with his family's support. He passed away in February.