reunion

GAUNT and thin after a long cancer battle, the trademark smile still shone through.

Actor James Van Der Beek was supposed to be there as the cast of Dawson’s Creek reunited for the first time in 22 years.

But his illness meant he could only appear in a short video for the assembled fans.

Yet for those there, and around the world, it meant everything.

The 48-year-old actor, who died yesterday after being diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2023, said the emotional reunion, which his wife Kimberly and their six children attended in his place, had been something he had been looking forward to during his gruelling treatment.

He told the audience at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York: “I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together.

LAST WORDS

James Van Der Beek left heartbreaking final message to fans before shock death

‘COURAGE AND GRACE’

James Van Der Beek statement in full after Dawson’s Creek star dies

“I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.

“I wanted to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theatre for being here tonight.

“From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.”

Van Der Beek was the all American teenager long before he became the object of teenage desire in adolescent drama Dawson’s Creek.

The son of mobile phone executive James Van Der Beek and former dancer Melinda, he was a promising American footballer in Cheshire, Connecticut.

But a concussion at the age of 13 kept him off the playing field so he took up acting.

He landed the lead role in his school’s production of Grease playing Danny Zuko.

He never looked back.

By the time he was 15 he was begging his mother to get him an agent and they travelled to New York to secure a deal.

While studying at private boarding school The Cheshire Academy he started appearing in Broadway productions.

A brief stint at university in New Jersey quickly fell by the wayside as he started landing major roles and then, at the age of 20, the lead in the teen drama.

As Dawson Leery, a budding filmmaker with an on-off relationship with Joey played by Katie Holmes, he became a teen heart-throb and the spawn of countless memes.

In 122 episodes of the show he grew from a confused 15-year-old to a confused adult.

The show’s theme tune I Don’t Want To Wait followed him throughout his life and triggered memories of the teen frenzy that surrounded him.

He said: “If I was at karaoke and it started playing there’s a part of me – and I’m a f*****g grown-ass man with four kids – that still wants to go hide under the table.

“I was at a pharmacy in Philadelphia and it came on and I immediately went into a weird panic.

“I think it’s tied to the pandemonium that accompanied that, for which there was no off button.

“Walking around at that time was very tricky because one autograph could turn into a mob scene. So I walked around in fear of teenage girls.

“When I was first very famous and people were passing out and all that, I remember watching a Beatles documentary and George saying how people were looking for any excuse to go mad.”

Dawson, like James, grew up on the show and when it came to an end he struggled to find work.

His big TV comeback show, NBC medical drama Mercy, was cancelled.

Sitcom Friends With Better Lives, made by the people behind Friends and Frazier, was pulled off air after eight episodes.

“I was 33, I had my first kid, and I thought: OK, what doors are open right now?” he said. “And I was thinking, I’m having more fun doing comedy than I would crying every day!

“I look back and I’m grateful. But it was an exhausting six-year marathon.

“I was shooting movies or doing photo shoots when the show was on hiatus.

“I felt burnt out when it ended. I needed time to duck away and disappear, figure things out and grow up a bit.

“When I was 24 the character I played on TV was a teenager losing his virginity.”

James met the love of his life Kimberly in 2009 and married the following year.

Together they had six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel Leah, 11, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and four-year-old Jeremiah, known as Remi.

He said: “When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband… it was much better and then I became a father… that was the ultimate.

“It just happened. We had one planned child – one out of six.

“One was 100% on purpose. The one thing we really sucked at was not getting pregnant. But thank God, honestly, because it’s such a struggle for people, and we really don’t take it for granted.

“I joke, and I laugh, but like, yeah, we really just kind of got lucky that way.”

He was always devoted to the show that made him a poster boy to girls around the world.

But, closer to home, he was reluctant at showing it to his own children for one very good reason.

He said: “It’s a great show, I love the show, I think other kids can watch it.

“I don’t think my kids need to watch their dad pretend to go through puberty. That’s my stance on it.

“It was a very well-intentioned show, people really trying to do the right thing and speaking incredibly eloquently about how they were trying to do the right thing.

“I think that seed of good intentions comes through.”

In November 2024, he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.

Last March he spoke about his fight with the disease on his 48th birthday, saying it had been the hardest year of his life.

He said: “I had to come nose to nose with death and all those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me.

“I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them.

“I could not be a provider because I wasn’t working.”

The reunion with his fellow cast members, in a charity gig for cancer research, was a beacon of hope in his darkest days.

Illness forced him to stay home but his message to fans was clear.

He said: “Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room. Shine some on my family.

“I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin.”

He had the assembled media pack giggling away as he told certain newspaper journalists he had been seeing their faces in his sleep, such is the interest around potential transfers at Parkhead.

And it is not only the media he has charmed, but his players, too.

Where they were finding ways to lose under Nancy – and Rodgers to a lesser degree – Celtic’s much-maligned squad are now grinding out results, albeit the 10-man reigning Premiership champions could not beat current leaders Hearts at the weekend.

Nevertheless, the upturn in performances and results since Nancy’s calamitous tenure has been stark, and that is without key starters Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota.

Midfielder Benjamin Nygren, who scored his 14th goal of the season against Utrecht, was asked about the impact O’Neill has had.

“He’s making a big difference,” the Sweden international said.

“He knows the club, he’s been here. He knows how it works here and he’s loved by everyone around the club.

“I think he brought in a lot of confidence, so we’ve been a lot better since he came back.”

Line of Duty stars recently reunited for a winter drink, sparking speculation that the show’s seventh series is already in production

Fans of Line of Duty were delighted after the show’s main stars got together recently for an informal pint.

The hit BBC police drama wrapped up in May 2021, though reports emerged last year suggesting a seventh series was being developed.

Whilst production is due to kick off this spring in Belfast, the recent get-together of actors Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar has fuelled rumours that the programme could be back sooner than anticipated.

The trio, portraying central figures in the fictional AC-12 anti-corruption squad, enjoyed a cheerful winter beverage together. They captured a snap holding their drinks, with Martin writing: “AC12 in the house (pub).”

This led to fans swamping the comments with optimism that filming for Line of Duty series 7 might be underway. One enthusiastic viewer asked: “Does this mean there will be more seasons of line of duty?”, reports the Express.

Someone else responded: “This is absolutely excellent news!” whilst a third commented: “Can’t wait for you all to come back in line of duty please get started so we can have something to look forward to.”

The forthcoming series, written by Jed Mercurio, opens with Central Police’s anti-corruption division being dissolved and reformed as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.

A fresh villain, sexual predator DI Dominic Gough, is expected to appear, though the performer taking on this role remains unannounced.

Dunbar, 67, who plays Supt Ted Hastings, warmly received the announcement, stating: “As we count down the AC12 days of Christmas, what a joy it is to know that the Three Amigos will be back on set together next year. Delighted with the news and looking forward to those mercurial twists and turns.”

Compston, 41, who plays DS Steven Arnott, said: “Line of Duty has been a job of a lifetime. Not only in terms of the show’s success but the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with I now call some of my closest friends. I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.”

McClure, 42, famous for playing DC Kate Fleming, added: “It goes without saying I’m so excited Line of Duty is back! Can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!”

Series six broadcast in 2021, with its concluding episode becoming the most-watched drama finale, excluding soaps, since contemporary records commenced in 2002. Including catch-up figures, it attracted more than 17 million viewers within 28 days, and the BBC is undoubtedly anticipating comparable viewing figures upon the show’s return.

Line of Duty is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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