Co-stars of Dawson's Creek Share Tributes
Busy Philipps, who played Joey's University roommate and close friend on the show, shared a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram, referring to him as "one in a billion" and how much he will be missed. Philipps also shared her long standing friendship with Van Der Beek and asked her 2.4 million followers to support his family through a GoFundMe page that she created to help pay for the family and Kimberley van der Beek's medical and living expenses.
The GoFundMe page that Philipps set up was to help support Kimberley and their 6 (four-15) children. Philipps called the Van Der Beek family "incredible" and stated that her heart breaks for them. She posted photos of both themselves during their time on the show which aired from 1998-2003. Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Van Der Beek's mother on Dawson's Creek, shared her own tribute and recognized his tremendous strength and grace during his battle with cancer and asked for the family to be provided with privacy during this difficult time.
Hollywood Friends Remember His Kindness
Philipps and Van Der Beek reunited once again when she made a guest appearance on the television show Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, where Van Der Beek portrayed a character based on himself. Krysten Ritter, who also had a role in the show, called Van Der Beek "the most beautiful human being inside and out" and was grateful for their friendship while extending her love to Kimberley and her children.
Many other well-known stars shared similar thoughts related to Van Der Beek as well. For example, Lin-Manuel Miranda stated that he feels that his whole heart is with the Van Der Beek family, while Alfonso Ribeiro expressed that Van Der Beek was his, "a true friend, brother & life coach," and vowed to be by Van Der Beek's side as he battled cancer during the final months of his life. Lastly, retired wrestler and cheerleader Stacy Keibler shared reflections of the time they spent during his final days discussing how important it is to take full advantage of every moment we have with others.
A Legacy that will Last Forever
In September, Van Der Beek was supposed to reunite with his Dawson's Creek co-stars (Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, & Joshua Jackson) for a reunion, however due to his health, he was only able to join them by way of video chat. Some of the other actors who have paid tribute to Van Der Beek include Chad Michael Murray, Kerr Smith, Austin Nichols, Sarah Michelle Gellar, & Jennifer Garner, and all have expressed that he will be remembered as an inspiration to his family, friends, and fans.
As the tributes to Van Der Beek continue, many of his friends believe that his legacy will live on through his contributions to the world, his generosity toward others, and the many lives that he touched. The van der Beek family has requested privacy as they deal with this loss.
