Steven Spielberg Gives $25,000 To James Van Der Beek’s Family

Days after the passing of “Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek, many have come ahead to supply financial assist for the household he left. One in all them is iconic director Steven Spielberg, who donated a major quantity.

The GoFundMe for the late actor’s household has surpassed its purpose in lower than two days, and donations nonetheless hold pouring in from everywhere in the world.

On February 11, Van Der Beek handed away from his years-long battle with colorectal most cancers at 48 years previous. He’s survived by his spouse, Kimberly, and their six kids, ages 4 to fifteen.

A GoFundMe web page was set as much as assist Van Der Beek’s household, asking for monetary assist. “The prices of James’s medical care and the prolonged struggle in opposition to most cancers have left the household out of funds. They’re working laborious to remain of their residence and to make sure the kids can proceed their training and keep some stability throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the web page reads.

Many have responded to the decision, with the funds reaching greater than $1 million in a matter of hours. A kind of who donated was Spielberg and his spouse, Kate Capshaw, who gave $25,000.

Spielberg is among the many high contributors, alongside an nameless donor who donated $30,000.

Van Der Beek is most well-known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery within the TV sequence “Dawson’s Creek.” Within the present, Dawson is an aspiring filmmaker who idolizes Spielberg, adorning his room with posters of the director’s movies, together with “Jurassic Park,” “Shut Encounters of the Third Type,” and “Hook.”

Based on the present’s creator, Kevin Williamson, he needed to pen a letter asking permission from Spielberg to make use of the posters. “And I used to be like, ‘Please, Mr. Spielberg, you do not know me, however I used to be this child. I had this bed room. I had all of your posters in my bed room. Can I please current Dawson the best way that he actually was?'” Williamson mentioned, per Entertainment Weekly.

He heard again from the director, who kindly wrote, “You should utilize the whole lot.” His solely situation was to not point out his spouse or kids within the present.

In September 2025, the forged of “Dawson’s Creek” reunited greater than twenty years after the present’s closing episode aired. Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams have been current, along with their former castmates, together with Busy Philipps, Meredith Monroe, and Kerr Smith.

Van Der Beek was noticeably absent on account of an sickness, however he despatched a video message, saying, “I am unable to consider I do not get to hug my forged mates. I needed to face on that stage and thank each single individual on this theater for being right here tonight.”

The forged did a studying of the present’s pilot episode, and songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to fill Van Der Beek’s sneakers.

The reunion was a charity occasion held to boost funds for Van Der Beek and the non-profit group F Most cancers. As beforehand reported by The Blast, Van Der Beek did not get residuals from the present on account of a “dangerous” contract.

When “Dawson’s Creek” started, Dawson was a highschool scholar eager on turning into a filmmaker. Within the sequence finale, six seasons later, audiences be taught that Dawson has develop into the author and govt producer of the present “The Creek,” a sequence primarily based on his life rising up in Capeside.

Through the reunion present, a brief video clip that Spielberg despatched was proven on the massive display screen. He had a couple of phrases for Van Der Beek, aka Dawson, saying, “Dawson, you made it. Perhaps sometime, I’ll get to have a Dawson’s closet.”