Busy Philipps opens up about grief after James Van Der Beek’s passing ‘it’s hard’

Busy Philipps has opened up about the emotional toll of James Van Der Beek’s death, saying she is finding it difficult to imagine revisiting their shared work on Dawson’s Creek.

The 48-year-old actress, who starred as Audrey on the hit teen drama, told Us Weekly that she had considered rewatching the series but has not been able to bring herself to do it.

“I was thinking about doing a rewatch for myself, you know, like watching it for the first time, Dawson’s Creek, but I just haven’t yet,” she said. “And also, you know, it’s hard.”

James Van Der Beek, who led the series from 1998 to 2003, passed away in February after battling cancer.

Philipps said his death has been part of a wider period of loss in her life, as she has also lost several close friends in recent years.

“I’ve lost several very close friends, far too young, in the last few years. James, obviously being one of them, a very public one,” she said. “I think that the perspective shift once you lose one friend is huge.”

She explained that experiencing grief has changed how she approaches daily life, adding that it has encouraged her to value time more deeply.

“It really sort of instills in you that every day is all you have,” she said.

Philipps added that she now tries to live with that awareness in mind, focusing on being present and intentional in her choices.

“So I do try to do that,” she said.

She also reflected on how loss has influenced her outlook on health, encouraging others to take medical care seriously.

“See doctors, get checkups, like make sure that you’re taking care of your body and your health,” she said. “And if something feels off, go get it checked out.”

Van Der Beek’s passing in February left behind his wife Kimberly and their six children.

In a recent message shared on social media, Kimberly described the deep grief her family continues to experience while also thanking fans for their support during a difficult time.