Michelle Williams broke her silence on the death of her former Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, recorded on Sunday, March 1, at SAG’s 2026 Actor Awards in Los Angeles, Williams, 45, spoke candidly about how Van Der Beek’s death has impacted her.
“I’m thinking about him and I’m thinking about his family constantly,” she told the outlet. Van Der Beek died at the age of 48 on February 11 following a battle with cancer.
Williams, who played Jen Lindley opposite Van Der Beek’s Dawson Leery on the WB coming-of-age drama which ran from 1998 to 2003, also shared a message with the people who have contributed to the GoFundMe launched by Van Der Beek’s family in the wake of his death.
“I also just want to say, like, it’s been such an amazing thing as James’ friend and a friend of the family to see the response in the wake of his passing and I just really want to say thank you to each and every person who contributed to sustaining their life and their children’s lives,” she told the outlet, who shared the interview via its X account. “It’s an incredibly meaningful thing to witness.”
Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed his death via social media on February 11. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she said in a statement shared via Van Der Beek’s Instagram at the time. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
Michelle Williams Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Later that day, the GoFundMe was launched in an effort to support Kimberley and her six children. “James Van Der Beek was a beloved husband, father, and friend who touched the lives of everyone around him,” a description on the GoFundMe page read. “After a long and courageous battle with cancer, James passed away on February 11, 2026 leaving behind his devoted wife, Kimberly, and their six wonderful children. Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care.”
At the time of publication, $2.75 million had been raised for the family, far surpassing the original listed goal of $1.5 million.
Williams’ Actor Awards appearance marked her first public outing since Van Der Beek’s death. She won the Actor award of Best Actress in a Limited Series for her work in FX’s Dying For Sex.
James Van Der Beek Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Prime Video
After Van Der Beek shared publicly in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, Williams told Entertainment Tonight in April 2025 that she was “in contact” with Van Der Beek and was there for him “in every and all ways.”
She later organised a Dawson’s Creek reunion, which Van Der Beek was unable to attend due to a stomach virus, in an effort to raise money for F Cancer. The actress shared via an August 2025 statement, “We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime. We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson’s Creek feel the same way.”
