More Than a Teen Icon: James Van Der Beek’s Greatest Role
To the world, he was the face of a generation on Dawson’s Creek. But at home, James Van Der Beek made a deliberate, beautiful choice: he was simply “Dad.”

He famously kept his fame away from his children, joking that they didn’t need to see him “pretending to go through puberty” on screen. He didn’t want them to see an icon; he wanted them to see the man who tucked them in at night.

Looking back, his words carry a profound weight. In a world of flashing lights, he chose the quiet warmth of family. He proved that while fame is fleeting, the love of a father is the only legacy that truly matters. A grounded soul, a legendary heart.