Reese Witherspoon shared a tribute to James Van Der Beek, whose last onscreen role will be in the upcoming “Legally Blonde” prequel TV series, “Elle.”
Van Der Beek died Wednesday after battling colorectal cancer since August 2023. The actor shot his scenes for “Elle” last year, and it will mark his final performance in a TV series.
Witherspoon, who’s an executive producer on “Elle,” shared on her Instagram Stories that she was “devastated” to hear about Van Der Beek’s death.
“What an extraordinary, talented man who also showed great kindness and grace in every action,” she wrote alongside a picture of him.
“Praying all the angels watch over his family during this difficult time,” she added.
“Elle” will follow Elle Woods — the iconic main character from “Legally Blonde” that was originally played by Witherspoon — during her high school years.
Van Der Beek will play Dean Wilson in the prequel. His character is described as “the city’s new Mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent,” according to Variety.
“Elle” premieres July 1 on Amazon Prime Video.
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Since Van Der Beek’s passing, there has been an outpouring of love from his past co-stars and friends, including “Dawson’s Creek” stars Kerr Smith and Busy Philipps.
Smith, who portrayed Jack McPhee in Seasons 2 through 6, wrote on Instagram, “I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I’ll miss him deeply. Rest easy.”
Philipps, who joined “Dawson’s Creek” as Audrey Liddell at the beginning of Season 5 in 2001 and also reunited with the actor for the Season 2 premiere of “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23,” shared, “My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today … every person who knew James and loved him. But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children.”
Kimberly announced her husband’s death on Wednesday, noting that he “passed peacefully.”
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she shared. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
James and Kimberly were married for 15 years and shared six children together: Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3.
The couple’s friends created a $500K GoFundMe to help Kimberly and the kids, due to the family being put under financial strain from the medical bills associated with James’ illness.
“In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future,” the GoFundMe’s page reads. “The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds.”
“They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time,” the page continues.
