Nearly a month after the tragic passing of James Van Der Beek, his Dawson's Creek costar Joshua Jackson is finally breaking his silence on the loss. During his appearance on the Today show on March 10th, Jackson, 47, spoke candidly with Craig Melvin about Van Der Beek's death and how he's honoring his late friend.
"It's a hit in many different ways," Jackson said of processing the loss. "As a father now, the enormity of that tragedy hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So, I think the process is ongoing."
Jackson, who shares a 5-year-old daughter Juno with ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith, spoke about how he's been reflecting on Van Der Beek's life and legacy over the past few weeks. He shared that their time on Dawson's Creek was "formative" for both of them and that they both looked back on that time with great fondness. However, he also acknowledged that he was just a "footnote" in what Van Der Beek had accomplished in his life.
Praising Van Der Beek, Jackson continued, "He became what we used to call a 'good man,' a man of belief and faith who faced the impossible with grace. He was an unbelievable partner and husband, a dedicated father who showed up for his family. While it's beautiful to think that he led a good life and was a good man, the tragedy of his loss for his family is enormous."
Van Der Beek passed away at the age of 48 after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer. To honor Van Der Beek's memory, Jackson partnered with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for a PSA promoting cancer screening, featuring Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty.
"I didn't realize that 65% of people in our age cohort haven't gone out and gotten tested," he explained. "They haven't even started the conversation. That's where the idea started. I also liked that they wanted to do something that was a little bit light because this isn't a fun conversation. It's kind of scary."
He urged men to visit the getbodychecked.com website to view providers in their area and to help with any lingering questions they may have. "The testing and screening have gotten better, but it's also true that the earlier you find something, the better your possible outcomes are," he explained. "Guys don't like to talk about this or go to the doctor. But in this case, it's not helpful at all."
