James Van Der Beek — who died Feb. 11 from colorectal cancer at the age of 48 — first gained fame as the title character on the teen drama Dawson’s Creek. His portrayal of aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery in the late-’90s soap opera, alongside Capeside friends Joey (Katie Holmes), Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Jen (Michelle Williams), remains his most recognized role.
Although Dawson’s Creek defined his career for many viewers — and certainly cemented his place in entertainment history — he took on many other memorable roles. He will also be remembered as backup football QB Jonathan “Mox” Moxon from his role in the coming-of-age film Varsity Blues and for showcasing his comedic side as a fictionalized version of himself on Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23.
While we wait to see his role in Prime Video’s highly anticipated Legally Blonde prequel Elle, Yahoo editors are looking back on these past favorites. Please share your own picks in the comments.
‘Dawson’s Creek’ (1998-2003)
The theme song alone transports me back to a time when the Dawson-Joey-Pacey love triangle felt like one of the world’s biggest dilemmas — or at least it did to my younger self. Dawson’s friendship-turned-crush on his childhood best friend, Joey, defined the series and mirrored so much of my own life and friendships at the time: first love drama, shifting loyalties, family conflict and growing pains as you make the jump from adolescence to adulthood. The show also introduced a generation of standout actors, including Busy Philipps. Their recent cast reunion — to raise money for cancer in honor of Van Der Beek, though he ended up missing the emotional event — underscored the bond they formed as performers from that era. The reunion also offered a glimpse of the father of six’s family, including a moment when his daughter sang the theme song, a full-circle tribute to a series that left a lasting mark. — Suzy Byrne
‘Varsity Blues’ (1999)
I owned the Varsity Blues DVD before I was allowed to. My parents forbade it — I was 13, it was rated R, end of discussion — which of course only made it more essential viewing. I was deep in my Dawson’s Creek era and would watch anything with the stars, so this became required research. But beyond my teenage rebellion, Varsity Blues is iconic for a reason. It’s not just the underdog story or that perfectly delivered “I don’t want your life” moment — it’s a time capsule of late-’90s teen angst wrapped in Texas football mythology. And yes, the whipped cream bikini scene became instant pop-culture lore, less about shock value now and more about how one frame can define an era of teen movies. Even now, it’s the kind of messy sports dramedy that reminds you why we all fell a little in love with Friday night lights stories in the first place, largely thanks to Van Der Beek. — Taryn Ryder
‘One Tree Hill’ (2008-2009)
Dawson’s Creek walked so One Tree Hill could run — and Van Der Beek honored the teen drama that followed his own with a four-episode arc. Billed as a “special guest star,” he played movie director Adam Reese — of course, a nod to movie-obsessed Dawson— hired to direct a film adaptation of Lucas’s (Chad Michael Murray) novel. — Suzy Byrne
‘Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23’ (2012-2014)
One of the most overlooked sitcoms of all time — genuinely — is the delightful Don’t Trust the B**** In Apartment 23, which has an astronomical laugh-per-minute quotient. It follows a happy-go-lucky Midwestern girl who moves in with an irresponsible party girl named Chloe (Ritter) who, despite her laziness, loves a good scam. Her best friend is James Van Der Beek — yes, a fictionalized version of the actor played by himself. He does it with an astounding amount of self-awareness, parodying the impact of his early fame on his confidence, vanity and career trajectory. The predicaments that they got into together defied predictability, and it’s a shame we only got to see two seasons of it. — Kelsey Weekman
‘The Rules of Attraction’ (2002)
This Bret Easton Ellis adaptation follows Van Der Beek’s college drug dealer Sean Bateman (brother of American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman) as he parties his way through Camden College while yearning for Lauren (Shannyn Sossamon), the girl he mistakenly believes is leaving him love notes. As Sean tries and fails to make any meaningful connections, a series of misunderstandings, both hilarious and tragic, ensues. — Kaitlin Reilly
Kesha’s ‘Blow’ music video (2011)
Van Der Beek mastered the brooding teen persona early in his career, but he proved equally adept at comedy, particularly when he leaned into and poked fun of his Dawson’s Creek persona and former teen idol image. Another time he stepped into that was in Kesha’s video for “Blow,” directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, in which he played the singer’s nemesis. Whether it was their exaggerated rivalry, his embrace of the self-mocking “James Van Der Douche” persona or the unicorn-filled showdown, the performance showed how fully he was in on the joke — again. — Suzy Byrne
