- - James Van Der Beek ‘Didn’t Know How to Deal with the Hype’ When “Dawson’s Creek ”Premiered

Victoria EdelFebruary 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM

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James Van Der Beek became a sensation when Dawson's Creek premiered in 1998, but he wasn't sure exactly how to deal with it

He told PEOPLE just weeks after the show began airing that he didn't know how to handle the 'hype'

The actor died Feb. 11 at the age of 48

James Van Der Beek found almost instant fame when Dawson’s Creek premiered on Jan. 20, 1998, and just weeks later, he opened up to PEOPLE about how he was learning to navigate his new life.

In a March 1998 interview, Van Der Beek — who died Feb. 11 at the age of 48 — said it was “weird enough” to go around Hollywood in a stretch limo when the show premiered. But then he saw himself on a Dawson’s Creek billboard.

"I started laughing," he said, "because I didn't know how to deal with the hype. I keep asking myself how did I get here?"

Van Der Beek was a student at Drew University in New Jersey when he was cast in Dawson’s Creek. In Los Angeles, he admitted, he met "some cool people."

The cast of 'Dawson's Creek.' From left: Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, Kerr Smith, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

"They took me around and showed me the whole Hollywood scene," he said. He was shocked by one thing: "I saw people wearing sunglasses at night! I always thought that was a joke, but they really do it!"

The show’s creator, Kevin Williamson, told PEOPLE about the actor, “I think James is going to be a huge star. He's very serious and single-minded about acting. But what is nice about him and the other kids is that they're unaffected. They're not yet stars, so they're not concerned with the size of their trailer … yet!" The series also starred Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter, Katie Holmes as Joey Potter and Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley. Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps joined in later seasons as fellow “kids.”

But Williamson, 60, said that Van Der Beek almost missed out on Dawson’s when he messed up his audition. "He was really nervous, and it showed," he said. The producer gave the actor a pep talk. "Then he came back into the room and stunned us. We knew he was Dawson. He's very bright, but he's also very vulnerable. I like that, because that keeps him 15 years old."

Playing a teenager when he was 21 years old did have one downside, Van Der Beek told PEOPLE in May 1998, when he was named one of PEOPLE’s 50 Most Beautiful People. "For Dawson's Creek, I have to shave a lot," he admitted. "I shave twice every day."

James Van Der Beek in 2024

Kevin Parry/Shutterstock

Some of his trepidation about Dawson’s Creek and the “hype” it created was because he had done some of the wild ride of Hollywood before. In 1995, he made his film debut in Angus, playing an arrogant jock. He said, "[People] told me, 'Oh, this is going to catapult you.' But the movie came and went. Now people tell me the same is going to happen with Dawson's Creek, and I take it with a grain of salt."

However, Dawson’s Creek did become an enormous fan favorite. It aired for six seasons on The WB and continues to stir passionate debates among its scores of fans.

Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023. "I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he told PEOPLE in 2024. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good."

Van Der Beek starred on shows including Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Pose and CSI: Cyber, and his movie roles included 1998’s Varsity Blues and 2001’s Texas Rangers. He will also appear in the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle later this year.

In September 2025, Van Der Beek’s Dawson’s Creek cast members reunited at an event to raise money for Van Der Beek and his family. The actor could not appear at the event due to illness.

"I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together," Van Der Beek said in a surprise video at the event. "I can't believe I'm not there. I can't believe I don't get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person."

He continued, "And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who's doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”