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Key Points 'Dawson's Creek' alum Kerr Smith opened up about how his friendship with James Van Der Beek has changed since the latter was diagnosed with cancer. Van Der Been announced his cancer diagnosis in November 2024. Dawson’s Creek star Kerr Smith revealed how his former co-star James Van Der Beek‘s cancer diagnosis impacted their friendship. While Dawson’s Creek ended more than two decades ago in 2003, the cast has remained in touch over the years and have even reunited several times at fan conventions. “Doing these Cons with him these past couple of years, I’ve really gotten to know James all over again. This time as 50-something year olds, rather than kids,” Smith, 53, said while appearing on the Tuesday, November 4, episode of the “Pod Meets World” podcast. However, Smith admitted that his continued friendship with Van Der Beek, 48, hasn’t made the latter’s health battle any easier to handle. “This whole thing he’s gone through has kinda hit me hard. It’s been tough,” Smith said. “To see a friend and a peer go through all of this especially with the family he has, which is so awesome.” Van Der Beek announced he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024. “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 a statement at the time. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.” Colorectal cancer “starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start,” according to the American Cancer Society. “Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.” In September, the cast of Dawson’s Creek reunited for a reading of the pilot episode in honor of Van Der Beek and to raise money for F Cancer. While Van Der Beek was originally supposed to attend, he got sick and had Lin-Manuel Miranda fill in for the role of Dawson Leery during the reading. Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 In addition to Smith and Miranda, 45, the show’s stars including Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and like Busy Philipps also took part in the event. “It was a fantastic weekend,” Smith reflected during the podcast appearance. “It was just incredible. … We were like The Beatles. It was insane.” Smith went on to applaud Miranda for stepping in to read Dawson’s lines, though he admitted that Van Der Beek was sorely missed. “I think there’s only one person who can capture the essence of Dawson,” he said. While Van Der Beek was unable to attend the event, his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six kids attended the fundraiser and even joined the cast on stage during a sing along of the show’s theme song, “I Don’t Want to Wait” by Paula Cole. One day after the event, Kimberly, 43, took to Instagram to share a selfie with Philipps, 46, Williams, 45, and Holmes, 46. “Going deeper with these ladies has been so bitter sweet. They are magic, kind, gifted, heart forward and… sacred,” she wrote alongside the selfie.
