Copyright The Hollywood Reporter
James Van Der Beek is opening up his personal collection of film and television memorabilia to fans of such projects as Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues. The selected items from his own archives will hit the block for the first time as part of Propstore’s Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction that takes places Dec. 5-7. All proceeds will be used to help finance the 48-year-old actor’s fight following his diagnosis with stage 3 colorectal cancer in the summer of 2023. Among the highlights from the collection is a necklace, seen below, that Van Der Beek’s character Dawson Leery gifted to Joey Porter (as played by Katie Holmes) on the teen drama series Dawson’s Creek. The necklace is estimated to sell for upwards of $50,000. Also hitting the block are the white shirt and tan pants that the character wore in the 1998 pilot episode, with the pair likely to hit $4,000. Other available items include the flannel button-down shirt that Dawson wore throughout the series and a collection of props from Dawson’s bedroom. This includes the Indiana Jones model kit and E.T. doll that were seen throughout the show as belonging to the character, who was a Steven Spielberg superfan. Additionally, Van Der Beek is auctioning off a pair of cleats and a hat that he wore in the 1999 high school football film Varsity Blues. “I’ve been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now,” Van Der Beek said in a statement. “While I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore’s auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years.” In September, Van Der Beek canceled his planned attendance at a Dawson’s Creek event due to illness. The live reading of the show’s pilot script was organized as a benefit for nonprofit organization F Cancer.
