Kevin Williamson honours James Van Der Beek at Berlanti's F Cancer Heroes Gala

Mixed · 2Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson received a Hero Award at the Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala, Greg Berlanti's annual F Cancer benefit, on Saturday night, 3 October, and used the occasion to remember the show's late star James Van Der Beek. 1 2 Centre · 1The gala was held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Deadline described it as the third edition of an event Berlanti launched eight years ago in honour of their mother, who died of cancer, and said it raised money for F Cancer's early detection, prevention and psychosocial initiatives. 2 Centre · 1Deadline reported that Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson and writer-producer Julie Plec presented the award, recognising Williamson's role in the one-time Dawson's Creek table read held to support Van Der Beek and benefit F Cancer. 2

Centre · 1Jackson said Williamson had opened up both heart and wallet so that Van Der Beek's children could be in a room of people celebrating their father, after Van Der Beek's health took a turn in the days before the reading. 2 Mixed · 2Williamson said the show was inspired by their own life and that they had looked for a "good-looking, handsome, camera-ready, great jawline version" of themself for the lead role. They said Van Der Beek "gave voice to my childhood" and "was the soul of the show". 1 2 Mixed · 2Williamson joked that Van Der Beek "started out as a brat" who would call about scripts, asking why they had to say certain words, and that they replied nobody would hear it anyway given the mumbling. Williamson called this "Dawson talking to Dawson". 1 2

Mixed · 2Van Der Beek died in February; Variety says this was two years after a colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2023, and Deadline gives their age as 48. Williamson said the loss "really knocked me over" and that the actor "handled his cancer with such grace and courage". 1 2 Mixed · 2Both outlets recount the September 2025 New York reunion at the Richard Rodgers Theater, where cast members read the 1998 pilot to raise funds for F Cancer and Van Der Beek's treatment. Variety says Lin-Manuel Miranda stood in because Van Der Beek was too ill to attend. Williamson told the gala doctors would not let Van Der Beek get on the plane, but that the actor "still showed up that night with his unshakable courage and his spirit". 1 2 Mixed · 2Williamson, who like Berlanti lost their mother to lung cancer, said they would accept the award in memory of their mother, of Van Der Beek and for the whole Dawson's Creek family. Variety also quoted Williamson saying their mother was outraged that Joey picked Pacey over Dawson. 2 1

Mixed · 2The Pitt star Katherine LaNasa, who spoke about her early-2023 breast cancer diagnosis, received the Inspirational Hero Award from The Pitt creator R. Scott Gemmill. Actor-producer Octavia Spencer presented the Memorial Hero Award to the late NBA player Jason Collins, who died of glioblastoma in May; his husband, Brunson Green, accepted it. 2 1 Centre · 1Deadline says Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson's mother, attended with Jackson, that executives from Warner Bros. Television and HBO Max (sponsors) were present, and that Seal closed the night with a performance. 2