Actor Awards 2026: Why Ali Larter Is “Full of Gratitude” After Turning 50
James Van Der Beek’s peers are taking a moment to celebrate what he meant to them.
Two weeks after the Dawson’s Creek star, who made his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis public in 2024, died at 48, his fellow members of SAG-AFTRA honored him at the 2026 Actors Awards on March 1, including his Varsity Blues costar Ali Larter.
“My heart goes out to Kimberly and his six beautiful children,” Larter told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet. “He just had such grace within him and that’s really what I think he gifted to the world. My heart is with his family.”
On Feb. 11, James’ wife Kimberly Van Der Beek shared her husband of 15 years had passed away following his yearslong cancer battle.
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” she wrote in a statement on social media. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time,” the message continued. “Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
In the time since, loved ones of the Varsity Blues alum—dad to his and Kimberly’s kids Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4—detailed their final days with him.
“One of the greatest honors of my life, I got to be there last four to five days, every day, and hold his hand,” longtime friend Mehcad Brooks shared in a Feb. 11 video on Instagram, “and pray with him, and tell him jokes, and tell him how much I love him, and sing to him.”
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Growing emotional, Desperate Housewives alum added, “And literally just watch this man handle death like a king. He handled the transition like a king.”
Among those also mourning the devastating loss was his Dawson’s Creek family, including his onscreen parents Mary-Margaret Humes and John Wesley Shipp as well as Katie Holmes.
“James, thank you,” the Batman Begins star wrote in her handwritten note shared to Instagram Feb. 12. “To share a space with your imagination is sacred—breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression. These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs—adventures of a unique youth.”
After detailing some of her favorite qualities her onscreen BFF possessed, Katie also reflected on how she sees his legacy.
“An appreciation for life with the integrity that life is art—creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children,” she emphasized, “the journey of a hero. I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it.”
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for WarnerMedia and AT&T
For a look at the stars who were in the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall as James and the other fallen stars were honored on March 1, keep reading…
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Teyana Taylor
in Thom Browne and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Demi Moore
in Schiaparelli.
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Emma Stone
in custom Louis Vuitton.
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Damian Lewis
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Kate Hudson
in Valentino and Desert diamonds from Emily P. Wheeler.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Amy Madigan
in Christian Dior.
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Parker Posey
in Gucci.
Monica Schipper/WireImage
Kristen Wiig
in Christian Cowan and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Sofia Carson
in Elie Saab and Chopard jewelry.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Michelle Randolph
in Balenciaga.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Michelle Monaghan
in Prada and Sabyasachi jewelry.
Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Miles Caton
in Louis Vuitton.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Li Jun Li
in Aadnevik.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Iris Apatow & Sam Nivola
in Dior Men (Nivola).
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Liza Colon-Zayas
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Jean Smart
in Laura Basci and Rahaminov Diamonds jewelry.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Damson Idris
in Prada.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Jasmin Savoy Brown
in Zuhair Murad.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Ted Danson & Kate Danson
in Blancpain watch and Oliver Peoples glasses (Ted).
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Mustafa Speaks & Michelle Mitchenor
Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Irina Shayk
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Emily Watson
Monica Schipper/WireImage
Janelle James
in Christian Louboutin shoes.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Ethan Hawke
in Dior.
Monica Schipper/WireImage
Eiza González
in Giorgio Armani Privé.
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Fiona Dourif
in Lanvin and Lagos jewelry.
David Fisher/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Erin Doherty
in Louis Vuitton.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock for The Actor Awards
Benicio del Toro
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Michael B. Jordan
in Tom Ford.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Regina Hall
in custom Cong Tri.
Watch The Actor Awards 2026 (formerly named the SAG Awards) live Sunday, March 1, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Netflix.
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