James Van Der Beek's Remarks About 'Bad' 'Dawson's Creek' Contract Resurface After His Death

Following James Van Der Beek's death at 48, renewed attention has focused on the financial hardships he faced despite his early fame.

The "Dawson's Creek" star previously revealed he earned no residuals from the hit series, calling his original contract a "bad" deal. Years later, mounting medical expenses from his cancer battle strained the family's finances, prompting a fundraiser that drew widespread support.

Even amid treatment, James Van Der Beek continued working and remained supported by his former castmates.

A little-known detail about Van Der Beek's "Dawson's Creek" contract has resurfaced following his death at 48, shedding light on the financial strain he faced in later years.

Despite starring as Dawson Leery on the hit WB series from 1998 to 2003, Van Der Beek previously revealed that he earned no residual income from reruns or streaming deals.

In a 2012 interview with "Today," he reflected on signing what he called a "bad contract" at just 20 years old.

"There was no residual money," he said at the time, per the Daily Mail, explaining that he saw very little long-term profit from the show's continued success.

News of his financial difficulties gained attention after friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.

Within hours, more than $1 million was raised, as supporters learned that years of medical treatment during his battle with colorectal cancer had depleted the family's resources.

The fundraiser noted that mounting healthcare expenses had left them in a precarious position, including concerns about maintaining their Texas home.

During his peak fame, Van Der Beek kept a relentless schedule. While filming "Dawson's Creek," he also took on movie roles such as "Varsity Blues" and "Texas Rangers," often working through hiatus periods.

He later described those years as intense and exhausting, saying the pace eventually led to burnout.

After the series ended in 2003, he stepped back from the spotlight to recover.

"Being the lead of the show and working a lot of hours—all good stuff, a tremendous education, incredible opportunity, it changed my life—it was a marathon, and by the end of it I was pretty beat," he shared.

Looking back, Van Der Beek acknowledged that early success influenced some of his career decisions. In interviews, he admitted he sometimes hesitated to accept roles, worried about protecting his image or choosing projects that didn't fully align with him.

"I think there is a tendency to feel like you have something to lose. Or something to protect. That can often lead to taking yourself a little too seriously," Van Der Beek explained.

However, over time, he realized that turning down opportunities had consequences, as offers became less frequent.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Van Der Beek began acting as a teenager after a sports injury sidelined him from football.

He transitioned into theater, landing off-Broadway roles before leaving college early when he was cast in "Dawson's Creek."

Beyond the teen drama that made him a household name, he built a diverse résumé that included films like "Rules of Attraction," "Labor Day," and "Downsizing," as well as television appearances on "One Tree Hill," "How I Met Your Mother," "CSI: Cyber," "Pose," and more recently, "Overcompensating."

As his health declined, Van Der Beek spoke candidly on social media about the toll cancer had taken, not only physically, but financially.

Unable to work consistently during treatment, he and his family relocated from their ranch to be closer to medical care.

At one point, he auctioned off memorabilia from "Dawson's Creek," raising nearly $50,000.

In September 2025, his former castmates, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson organized a reunion event at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre.

The live reading of the show's pilot episode raised funds for his treatment and the nonprofit F Cancer.

Though Van Der Beek had planned to attend, illness forced him to withdraw at the last minute. He instead appeared via video, expressing disappointment at missing the event due to a stomach virus and gratitude for the outpouring of support during what he called one of the most difficult periods of his life.

Despite his ongoing treatment, Van Der Beek completed one final acting project before his death.

In May 2025, he filmed a supporting role in "Elle," the upcoming television prequel to the "Legally Blonde" film franchise originally led by Reese Witherspoon.

The Prime Video series, produced by Witherspoon, stars Lexi Minetree as a younger version of Elle Woods and explores the character's life before law school. Van Der Beek portrays Dean Wilson, a mayoral candidate and school district superintendent.

"Elle" is scheduled to premiere on July 1, 2026, marking his final on-screen appearance.