When James Van Der Beek reunited with Kerr Smith, he shared the exact moment when he realized ‘Dawson’s Creek’ was going to change his life forever.
A Life-Changing Moment: James Van Der Beek Recalls the Exact Second He Realized ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Was Going to Change His Life Forever
James Van Der Beek took a stroll down memory lane when he reunited with Kerr Smith for a Dawson’s Creek panel at Steel City Con in Pittsburgh. The actor, 48, shared memories from his time on the set of the beloved ’90s show, including the exact moment when he realized that Dawson’s Creek was going to change his career — and life — forever.
James Van Der Beek is an American actor, dancer, and television personality.
Born on March 8, 1977, in Cheshire, Connecticut, he rose to fame with his role as Dawson Leery in the popular teen drama series 'Dawson's Creek.' “ Dawson's Creek ” is a popular teen drama series. Van Der Beek has also appeared in films like 'Varsity Blues' and 'She's All That.' In addition to acting, he is a skilled dancer and has competed on season 19 of 'Dancing with the Stars,’ where he finished as runner-up. “ I want to be part of something that’s going to make people feel good about themselves.”_ Van Der Beek said in an interview.
Van Der Beek has been married to Kimberly Brook since 2010.
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Stardom
Van Der Beek made a movie at the age of 17, which everyone said would change his life. However, he didn’t share the same enthusiasm as others did. He remembered attending the movie with his college friends and feeling skeptical about its impact on his life.
‘So when I was in Dawson’s Creek, we were in North Carolina — far from Hollywood, on the WB Network,’ Van Der Beek recalled. ‘Some people said, ‘Are you ready for this to change your life?’ And I thought, ‘I’ve been down this road before. This is not going to change anything.’ But then they flew me to L.A., and I saw a billboard with my face blown up a thousand times bigger than my head already is.‘
This moment struck him as hilarious, and he started laughing. The fact that someone else had to press the shift button four times to type his name on the billboard was the most amusing thing to him.
A Life-Changing Experience
Two weeks into filming, Van Der Beek was doing an appearance in Seattle when the number of expected attendees increased from 100 to 500. He was surprised by the reaction and realized that Dawson’s Creek was going to be much bigger than he had ever imagined.
For his part, Kerr Smith recalled a similar moment when Joshua Jackson told him, ‘We are a hit.‘ This experience was indeed life-changing for both actors.
Dawson’s Creek ran from 1998 to 2003 and followed the lives of its iconic characters, including Dawson, Joey Potter, Pacey Witter, and Jen Lindley. The show was groundbreaking in many ways, making James Van Der Beek just the second openly gay character on a teen network drama after Rickie on My So-Called Life.
The former costars’ reunion came about as Van Der Beek continues treatment for colorectal cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2024. In recent weeks, he has spoken about the toll it has taken on both him and his family, and how his former Dawson’s Creek castmates have been in touch to offer support.
