Kerr Smith Details How James Van Der Beek’s Cancer Impacted Friendship

Kerr Smith detailed the “extremely emotional” Dawson’s Creek reunion amid costar James Van Der Beek’s cancer battle — and how their friendship has evolved during his health ups and downs.

“It was a fantastic weekend,” Smith, 53, said during the Tuesday, November 4, episode of the “Pod Meets World” podcast, reminiscing about the cast’s Broadway reunion in September that was organized to honor Van Der Beek, 48, and raise money for F Cancer.

Smith played Jack McPhee on the WB series, joining the show in season 2 alongside Van Der Beek’s Dawson Leery from 1999 to 2003.

While Van Der Beek had to pull out of the in-person event last minute amid his ongoing battle with colorectal cancer, Smith told podcast listeners he was there “in spirit” having recorded a message to his costars and the fans.

“It was just incredible. … We were like The Beatles. It was insane,” Smith said of the live reading of the show’s pilot in New York City, which included the original cast of Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and later additions like Busy Philipps.

Even in Van Der Beek’s absence, Smith said he feels close to the actor after doing fan conventions together for some time.

“Doing these Cons with him these past couple of years, I’ve really gotten to know James all over again. This time as 50-something year olds, rather than kids,” Smith shared.

Smith confessed that their continued friendship hasn’t made Van Der Beek’s health battle any easier to handle.

“This whole thing he’s gone through has kinda hit me hard. It’s been tough,” Smith explained. “To see a friend and a peer go through all of this especially with the family he has, which is so awesome.”

While Smith was in awe of how well the show reunion went with Lin Manuel Miranda reading Van Der Beek’s lines, he admitted, “I think there’s only one person who can capture the essence of Dawson.”

Van Der Beek announced in November 2024 that he had been “privately dealing” with his colorectal cancer diagnosis and “taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.”

The actor, who shares six children with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, told People in a statement at the time, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

After going public with his health battle, James revealed that he was able to reconnect with several of his Dawson’s Creek costars, which ultimately led to their NYC reunion.

“We all went our separate ways and, you know, just didn’t speak for years because we’re just living our lives and doing our things,” James said on Jana Kramer’s “Whine Down” podcast in March. “And to just reconnect and be like, ‘Oh, wow. I love who you’ve become’… [has] been so great. It’s just been so great to talk to them and catch up with who they are now, this many years out, and to have that shared experience from back in the day.”

Kerr, meanwhile, exclusively told Us Weekly in September that because of his friendship with James, he knew about his diagnosis “a couple years back” before it was in the news.

“It hit me pretty hard, I gotta be honest. James and I have had a friendship that’s been off and on over the years, but at these conventions, it’s been interesting to get to know him all over again,” Smith shared. “As adults, the relationship is completely different. We were kids back then, it was totally just a different scenario.”

He added: “For me, it’s been a really special thing for me to be able to redevelop a friendship. He is doing well, his spirits are good and the guy’s amazing.”