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Michelle Williams thanks fans for supporting James Van Der Beek’s family after his death
The actress praises fans for rallying behind his family, calling the support 'incredibly meaningful'
Michelle Williams said she keeps her late Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek and his family “constantly” in her thoughts following his death last month.
Speaking at the 32nd annual Actor Awards at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on Sunday night, Williams reflects on the loss as she accepts the prize for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for her role in Dying for Sex.
Asked whether Van Der Beek is on her mind during the ceremony, Williams responds, “I’m thinking about him and his family constantly.”
Van Der Beek dies Feb. 11 at age 48 after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly, announces his passing in a message shared on Instagram, saying he “passed peacefully” and met his final days “with courage, faith, and grace.”
Williams also addresses the outpouring of support for Van Der Beek’s family in the weeks since his death.
“It’s been such an amazing thing, as James is a friend and a friend of the family, to see the response in the wake of his passing,” she said.
“I just really want to say thank you to each and every person who has contributed to sustaining their lives and their children’s lives. It’s an incredibly meaningful thing to witness, she added."
Her comments reference a GoFundMe campaign created to help cover the costs of the actor’s medical care and prolonged fight against cancer. The fundraiser raises more than $1.3 million within its first 24 hours and surpasses $2.7 million by March
Williams and Van Der Beek rose to fame together on Dawson's Creek, which premiered in 1998.
Williams is 16 when she begins playing Jen Lindley, while Van Der Beek, then 20, stars as aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery.
Over the years, Williams has spoken publicly about staying in touch with her former castmate, particularly after he revealed his cancer diagnosis in 2024.
At the time, Van Der Beek says he focuses on his health and his “incredible” family.
He and Kimberly share six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah.