A Devoted Father and a Good Man’: Joshua Jackson Breaks Silence on the Death of James Van Der Beek

oshua Jackson breaks his silence on the death of Dawson's Creek costar James Van Der Beek, launching a cancer screening campaign in his honor.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 10:32 AM EDT

Source: People

A Formative Bond Speaking with Craig Melvin, Joshua Jackson, 47, reflected on the "formative" years he spent alongside Van Der Beek on the set of Dawson’s Creek. While the world knew Van Der Beek as a teen idol, Jackson emphasized that his true accomplishment was the man he became off-camera. He described the late actor as a "good man" whose faith and dedication to his family allowed him to face his illness with "grace." Jackson noted that while their professional history was significant, he felt like a "footnote" compared to Van Der Beek’s role as a husband and a father to his six children.

The Weight of Fatherhood As a father himself to 5-year-old daughter Juno, Jackson shared that the tragedy hits him with a specific "enormity." He spoke candidly about the heartbreak for Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their children, who range in age from 4 to 15. The loss of a parent at such a young age is a tragedy Jackson says he is still "ongoing" in processing, noting that Van Der Beek "showed up" for his family in a way that defined his character.

A Mission for Early Detection To honor his friend’s legacy, Jackson has channeled his grief into advocacy. Partnering with AstraZeneca, he launched a new public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness about colorectal cancer screenings. The campaign, which features Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty, aims to make a "scary" conversation more approachable for men in their 40s.

Jackson highlighted a startling statistic: 65% of people in his age cohort have not yet begun the conversation about testing. He urged men to push past the "stiff upper lip" mentality that often prevents them from visiting the doctor.

Understanding Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, yet it is highly treatable when caught early.

Stage 3: This stage, which Van Der Beek battled, indicates that the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but has not yet reached distant organs.