Following the heartbreaking news of James Van Der Beek’s death on Wednesday, there’s a bright spot that has emerged: fans will be able to see him in his final role and potentially, a memoir could be released.
Van Der Beek will recur in the upcoming Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios series Elle, a prequel to the hit motion picture Legally Blonde, premiering on July 1. He will play Dean Wilson, the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent.
Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows young Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) through high school as viewers learn about the life experiences that shaped her. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) from the film graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.
“James Van Der Beek began his career as a beloved teen icon, and audiences have connected with his breadth and depth of work ever since. He was a husband, father, consummate professional, and, most recently, a vocal advocate for cancer awareness. We are proud to have worked with him as a creative partner on Overcompensating and the upcoming Elle, where his gift for comedic timing led to memorable performances. We are deeply saddened by his passing and send our heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and his many fans,” reads a statement on behalf of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.
Sources tell Deadline Van Der Beek had been quietly working on his memoir between work on Elle, his appearances on Fox’s The Masked Singer and Prime Video’s Overcompesating, in addition to the quality time he was spending with family and staying connected to friends and fans. It is unknown at this time how far he got into writing his story, or if there are any plans to publish posthumously.
Van Der Beek’s breakout role was in the 1998 hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek, created by Kevin Williamson. The actor and devoted family man starred opposite Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson across the show’s six seasons. His notable roles also include the films Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, among many others.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their four daughters and two sons. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with his family’s living expenses.
English (US) ·