Dawson's Creek Creator Recalls Working with a 'Brat' James Van Der Beek

Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson described the late James Van Der Beek as a "brat" when they first began working together on the beloved teen drama. Williamson shared these memories while accepting the Hero Award at the Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala in Santa Monica, California.

Williamson recounted playful exchanges with Van Der Beek, who died in February at age 48 from colorectal cancer. "He started out as a brat," Williamson told the audience. "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 playfully retorted, "I would say, 'Well, don't worry about it, the way you mumble nobody is going to hear it anyway.'"

Becoming more serious, Williamson became emotional as he discussed Van Der Beek's portrayal of a character based on his own teenage years. "James had a full character arc," Williamson said, his voice catching. "James gave voice to my childhood, he was the soul of the show, and anyway, he was the ultimate upgrade."

Williamson also spoke about his long acquaintance with Van Der Beek, stating he "had the great pleasure of knowing James over many years, I saw him go from a young kid to an extraordinary man – a husband, a father and a friend." He added that Van Der Beek's death "really knocked me over."

The gala, which honored Williamson, raises money for F Cancer's early detection, prevention, and psychosocial initiatives. The event was launched by TV producer Greg Berlanti, who also worked on Dawson's Creek, in honor of his mother who died of cancer.

Williamson was recognized for his role in organizing a Dawson's Creek table read in September 2025 to support James Van Der Beek following his cancer diagnosis. Van Der Beek's co-star Joshua Jackson, along with TV writer-producer Julie Plec, presented Williamson with the award.

Jackson, visibly emotional, shared how Williamson not only supported the cast but also financially contributed to the event to honor Van Der Beek and his family. "To allow his children to be in a room filled with people there to celebrate their dad as they had seen him go through what he was going through with humility and grace and to see the love for him that existed outside of their family," Jackson said.

Dawson's Creek aired for six seasons until 2003 and centered on a group of friends attending Capeside High School. The show launched the careers of Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, and James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek's role as Dawson Leery solidified him as a teen heartthrob. During the show's run, he also starred in films such as Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction. By the show's end, he was named one of People Magazine's 50 most beautiful people.

In his later career, Van Der Beek took on smaller roles on television and stage, appeared on Dancing With The Stars, and moved with his family to Austin, Texas, in 2020 for a simpler life on a ranch. He publicly shared his colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, stating he was privately dealing with it and taking steps to resolve it with his family's support.