{"id":298212,"date":"2026-10-05T17:20:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T17:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/james-van-der-beek-started-out-as-a-brat-on-dawsons-creek\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T17:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T17:20:49","slug":"james-van-der-beek-started-out-as-a-brat-on-dawsons-creek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/james-van-der-beek-started-out-as-a-brat-on-dawsons-creek\/","title":{"rendered":"James Van Der Beek ‘Started Out as a Brat’ on Dawson’s Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em><\/a> creator Kevin Williamson<\/strong> remembered James Van Der Beek<\/strong><\/a> with an emotional tribute nearly eight months after the actor\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Williamson, 61, paid tribute to Van Der Beek as he received the Hero Award at the Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala in Santa Monica, California, on Saturday, October 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames Van Beek gave voice to my childhood,\u201d Williamson said of Van Der Beek, who played Dawson Leery in Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em>, which was inspired by Williamson\u2019s own youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was the soul of the show, and anyway, he was the ultimate upgrade,\u201d Williamson continued, per Deadline<\/a>. \u201cI had the great pleasure of knowing James over many years. I saw him go from a young kid to an extraordinary man \u2014 a husband, a father and a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williamson went on to quip that Van Der Beek had a \u201cfull character arc\u201d during the teen drama\u2019s six-season run while recalling their dynamic on set.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe started out as a brat. He would get a script and he would call me, and he would be like, \u2018Why do I have to say this word? Nobody knows what this word means,\u2019\u201d Williamson said. \u201cAnd I would say, \u2018Well, don\u2019t worry about it, the way you mumble, nobody is going to hear it anyway.\u2019 That was our relationship \u2014 Dawson talking to Dawson.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williamson said that Van Der Beek\u2019s death in February at age 48<\/a> \u201creally knocked me over.\u201d (The actor announced he had been diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer in November 2024.)<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s here with us tonight,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be with us for always. He\u2019s awesome, and so I can\u2019t pretend I\u2019m worthy of any award, but I will accept it. I\u2019ll accept it in memory of my mother. I will accept it in the memory of James Van Der Beek, and I will accept it for the entire Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em> family.\u201d<\/p>\n

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