'Dawson's Creek' Creator Kevin Williamson Recalls James Van Der Beek 'Started Out as a Brat'

Kevin Williamson, the creator of the popular teen drama "Dawson's Creek," reflected on his early working relationship with the late James Van Der Beek, describing the actor as having "started out as a brat." Williamson made these remarks on Saturday while accepting the Hero Award at the Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala in Santa Monica, California.

He recounted how Van Der Beek, who portrayed the titular character Dawson Leery, would frequently question the script. "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, eliciting laughter from the audience. Williamson’s playful response was, “Well, don’t worry about it, the way you mumble nobody is going to hear it anyway.”

Despite the early on-set banter, Williamson praised Van Der Beek's contribution to the show, noting that the actor was the inspiration for the character and became the "soul of the show." He added, "He was the ultimate upgrade." Williamson observed Van Der Beek's growth over the years, stating, “I saw him go from a young kid to an extraordinary man, a husband, a father and a friend. James had a full character arc.”

"Dawson's Creek" aired from 1998 to 2003 and also starred Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams. The show was often critiqued for its advanced vocabulary, which Van Der Beek had apparently raised concerns about early on.

In a 2012 interview, Van Der Beek himself mentioned that he received minimal financial benefit from the show's success due to a disadvantageous contract. "There was no residual money," he told Today.com at the time, attributing it to being young and signing a "bad contract."

James Van Der Beek died in February at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.