The cast and creator of Dawson’s Creek gathered in Santa Monica on Saturday night to remember James Van Der Beek, who died in February after a fight with colorectal cancer.
Series creator Kevin Williamson received the Barbara Berlanti Hero Award at Greg Berlanti’s Heroes Gala, held at Barker Hangar to raise money for the cancer charity F Cancer. Joshua Jackson and writer-producer Julie Plec presented the honor. Williamson, who fought back tears, called Van Der Beek the “soul of the show.” He said the actor gave voice to his own childhood, and recalled watching him grow from a young kid into a husband, father and friend.
Williamson also revisited the September 2025 benefit, when the cast read the pilot script on a New York stage to support Van Der Beek’s treatment. Illness kept the actor from attending, and Lin-Manuel Miranda filled in for him. Williamson said doctors would not let Van Der Beek travel. He still joined the evening by video, and Williamson told the Santa Monica crowd he felt the actor’s presence in the room. “The only thing missing was James,” he said of that earlier night.
Van Der Beek went public with a Stage 3 diagnosis in November 2024, when he was 46. He used his platform to urge earlier screening as more adults under 50 receive the diagnosis.
Katherine LaNasa, who plays charge nurse Dana Evans on The Pitt, also received an honor, as did former NBA player Jason Collins. The Pitt creator R. Scott Gemmill introduced LaNasa and described her as a warrior. He said her strength during her own cancer treatment shaped her Emmy-winning performance. LaNasa attended with her husband, Grant Show, and several Pitt castmates, including Noah Wyle and Shawn Hatosy.
Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson’s mother, walked the red carpet with Jackson. She disclosed last year that she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007 and kept it private for years.
The evening carried personal weight for Berlanti, who started the gala to honor his late mother. Jim Rash emceed the auction. Other guests included Danielle Panabaker, Matthew Lillard and Lisa Ann Walter.
