Joshua Jackson just revealed how he is dealing with the death of his friend, James Van Der Beek.
During the final episode of Today’s showthe Dawson’s Creek star shared the sadness he felt over the loss of his friend and co-star.
“I think it hits in different ways,” the 47-year-old said.
He continued: “For me as a father, the enormity of that tragedy now affects me in a very different way than just as a colleague, so I think the processing is ongoing.”
Joshua, who has five-year-old daughter Juno with his ex-wife, Jodie Turner-Smith, explained that he now saw his long-time friend through the lens of fatherhood and described him as a ‘real man’.
James, who died last month from stage 3 colorectal cancer at the age of 48, was the father of six children, whom he shared with his wife Kimberly Brook.
“He became what we used to call a ‘good man,’ a man with the kind of faith, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an incredible partner and husband, right?” Joshua said during the show.
“Just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, devoted father. And while on the one hand that’s wonderful and I think he lived a very good life and was a good man, it’s also – the tragedy of that loss for his family is enormous,” he further said.
Joshua, who starred alongside James in teen drama Dawson’s Creek, believes that while the screen time the two shared on the show has always kept fans hooked, it was James’ later performances for which he would be remembered.
“It was formative for us, and I know we both look back on that time fondly,” he reflected.
“But I also want to say, I know I’m just a footnote in what he’s actually accomplished in his life,” Joshua Jackson concluded.
