Steven Spielberg Gives $25,000 To James Van Der Beek’s Family

Days after the passing of “Dawson’s Creek” star James Van Der Beek, many have come forward to supply monetary support for the family he left. Considered one of them is iconic director Steven Spielberg, who donated a big amount.

The GoFundMe for the late actor’s family has surpassed its goal in lower than two days, and donations still keep pouring in from all around the world.

On February 11, Van Der Beek passed away from his years-long battle with colorectal cancer at 48 years old. He’s survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children, ages 4 to fifteen.

A GoFundMe page was set as much as support Van Der Beek’s family, asking for financial support. “The prices of James’s medical care and the prolonged fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They’re working hard to remain of their home and to make sure the kids can proceed their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time,” the page reads.

Many have responded to the decision, with the funds reaching greater than $1 million in a matter of hours. Considered one of those that donated was Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, who gave $25,000.

Spielberg is among the many top contributors, alongside an anonymous donor who donated $30,000.

Van Der Beek is most well-known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery within the TV series “Dawson’s Creek.” Within the show, Dawson is an aspiring filmmaker who idolizes Spielberg, decorating his room with posters of the director’s movies, including “Jurassic Park,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “Hook.”

In line with the show’s creator, Kevin Williamson, he needed to pen a letter asking permission from Spielberg to make use of the posters. “And I used to be like, ‘Please, Mr. Spielberg, you do not know me, but I used to be this kid. I had this bedroom. I had all of your posters in my bedroom. Can I please present Dawson the way in which that he really was?'” Williamson said, per Entertainment Weekly.

He heard back from the director, who kindly wrote, “You should utilize all the things.” His only condition was not to say his wife or children within the show.

In September 2025, the forged of “Dawson’s Creek” reunited greater than twenty years after the show’s final episode aired. Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams were present, along with their former castmates, including Busy Philipps, Meredith Monroe, and Kerr Smith.

Van Der Beek was noticeably absent as a result of an illness, but he sent a video message, saying, “I can not imagine I do not get to hug my forged mates. I desired to stand on that stage and thank each person on this theater for being here tonight.”

The forged did a reading of the show’s pilot episode, and songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to fill Van Der Beek’s shoes.

The reunion was a charity event held to lift funds for Van Der Beek and the non-profit organization F Cancer. As previously reported by The Blast, Van Der Beek didn’t get residuals from the show as a result of a “bad” contract.

When “Dawson’s Creek” began, Dawson was a highschool student keen on becoming a filmmaker. Within the series finale, six seasons later, audiences learn that Dawson has turn into the author and executive producer of the show “The Creek,” a series based on his life growing up in Capeside.

In the course of the reunion show, a brief video clip that Spielberg sent was shown on the large screen. He had a couple of words for Van Der Beek, aka Dawson, saying, “Dawson, you made it. Possibly someday, I’ll get to have a Dawson’s closet.”

A number of months before his passing, Van Der Beek auctioned some “Dawson’s Creek” memorabilia to lift funds for his cancer treatment. “I have been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the appropriate time to do something with them, and with all the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it’s clear that the time is now,” he said.

Donations to Van Der Beek’s family proceed pouring in, they usually have surpassed the $1.5 million goal in lower than two days. As previously reported by The Blast, other celebrities who’ve donated to the cause include Zoe Saldana and Derek Hough.

As of writing, the contributions have reached $2.1 million.