Actress Reese Witherspoon is just one of the many stars, co-stars, friends and fans to share emotional tributes to James Van Der Beek, who died Wednesday at age 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Witherspoon, who serves as executive producer on the upcoming “Legally Blonde” prequel series “Elle,” shared on her Instagram stories that she was “devastated” to hear about Van Der Beek’s death.
“What an extraordinary, talented man who also showed great kindness and grace in every action,” she wrote. “Praying all the angels watch over his family during this difficult time.”
Van Der Beek’s role in “Elle” will mark his final television performance. He shot his scenes for the series last year, playing Dean Wilson, described as “the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent,” according to Deadline
The series follows Elle Woods during her high school years, before the events of the original 2001 “Legally Blonde” film. “Elle” premieres July 1 on Amazon Prime.
An outpouring of love and respect
Former “Dawson’s Creek” co-stars also paid tribute to Van Der Beek.
Katie Holmes, who appeared in all six seasons of the show, wrote on Instagram, “Thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression. … I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it.”
Busy Philipps, who also appeared on the program and later reunited with Van Der Beek for “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” wrote: “James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and I don’t know what else to say … He was my friend and I loved him and I’m so grateful for our friendship all these years.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar posted to the Instagram of his wife Kimberly: “I’m so sad for your beautiful family. While James’ legacy will always live on, this is a huge loss to not just your family but the world. F— Cancer.”
Director and actor Kevin Smith recalled asking Van Der Beek to be part of his 2001 movie “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” in which Van Der Beek went on to portray a “cartoonish” version of himself in the “Bluntman and Chronic” film within the film.
“I’m saddened today realizing we won’t get that opportunity ever again, Smith wrote as part of a lengthy Instagram tribute post. ”We live under a fairness fallacy, as if we’re somehow entitled to long lives.”
In a statement released by Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, the companies referred to Van Der Beek as a “consummate professional” and “vocal advocate for cancer awareness,” adding that they were “proud to have worked with him as a creative partner.”
Van Der Beek first revealed his diagnosis in November 2024, sharing that the cancer had been discovered during a routine colonoscopy in August 2023 after he noticed changes in his bowel habits.
Though initially shocked by the diagnosis, he spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the illness, calling cancer a “full-time job” that required constant appointments and difficult conversations with loved ones, according to PEOPLE.