James Van Der Beek death: Joshua Jackson makes first comments on Dawson’s Creek co-star’s loss
Joshua Jackson has spoken about the death of his former Dawson’s Creek co-star and housemate, James Van Der Beek a month on from the loss.
“I think it hits in a variety of different ways,” Jackson said during an appearance on the US Today show overnight.
“For me, as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague, so I think the processing is ongoing.”
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The duo played best friends turned love rivals on the teen drama.
“He and I shared this very amazing time … and it was formational for us,” Jackson said.
”I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I’m really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life.”
He praised the late star for being not only a dear friend and good actor but an activist, fundraiser and dedicated family man.
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“He became what we used to just call a ‘good man’, a man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, right?” Jackson said.
“Just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father.
“And so while on the one hand that’s beautiful and I think he did lead a very good life and he was a good man, it is also, the tragedy of that loss for his family is enormous.”
Van Der Beek died on February 11, aged 48, after a battle with colorectal cancer.
The actor and his wife Kimberly have six children – Olivia, 15; Joshua, 13; Annabel, 12; Emilia,9; Gwendolyn, 7; and Jeremiah, 4.
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Jackson is a father to five-year-old daughter Juno, who he shares with ex-wife Jodie Turner Smith.
Jackson took part in the Dawson’s Creek reunion special on Broadway, a reading of the pilot script in front of a live audience raising money for cancer charities and Van Der Beek’s own treatment.
In the end Van Der Beek was too sick to attend but family members were there, which Jackson said was a special moment.
“For us to get together, it’s a bit like a college reunion and then to share that experience with the audience and also to be able to witness his kids witness the impact he had on other people was really impactful,” he said.
Jackson not only reflected on his time with Van Der Beek during the interview but spoke about re-teaming with Katie Holmes, who was his love interest in the show.
The pair just filmed a romantic comedy, which is set to be the first of three films as Holmes makesher directorial debut.
Jackson joked that Holmes “was bossing me around back then”, referring to their Dawson’s Creek days, so he was “fully prepared for her to be my boss”.
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