James Van Der Beek made no money from Dawson's Creek reruns due to contract clause
The late James Van Der Beek stopped receiving money for reruns of Dawson's Creek for one reason.
On Wednesday (11 February), the actor's family took to his Instagram account to announce his passing, writing: "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning."
The family asked for 'peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend'.
Van Der Beek announced his stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, after it was discovered during a routine colonscopy in 2023.
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The actor explained that he experienced a 'change in bowel habits' before the fatal diagnosis, as there are several other symptoms that people should be wary of.
While many may remember him for his role as Dawson Lerry on 90s/2000s American teen drama Dawson's Creek, it turns out that unlike many other popular series of the time, he did not receive residuals once the show ended.
Van Der Beek wasn't alone though, as his co-stars Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams were in the same boat.
Speaking to Today in 2012, the late actor explained: "There was no residual money, I was 20. It was a bad contract. I saw almost nothing from that."
Dawson's Creek ran on the WB Network from 1998 and 2003 for a total of six seasons, with the show rising to popularity.
It's reported by the Daily Mail that the cast started out earning $35,000 (£25,700) per episode, eventually peaking at around $175,000 (£128,500) per episode by the show's final season.
Jackson once boasted that at 19, he 'would make more money doing four episodes of Dawson's Creek than most of my friends' parents made in a year'.
An absence of residuals, though, means that the cast's hopes of a long-term income due to the show's success, are forever dashed.
For reference, the main actors of Friends continue to earn around $20 million a year, over 20 years since the show's finale aired.
Van Der Beek said that he worked non-stop while he starred on Dawson's Creek, managing to shoot films such as Varsity Blues and Texas Rangers while the TV show had breaks.
He admitted: "From the time I was 20 to 26, it was a pretty crazy time. I was shooting during the week, doing photo shoots on the weekends, shooting movies during the hiatus, then coming right back and doing the show."
The actor said that the opportunities 'changed' his life, but it did take a mental toll on him, as he felt burnt out after Dawson's Creek wrapped in 2003.
While admitting that he let the success get to his head at the time, the actor said: "You are incredibly fortunate whatever success falls on you, which is what happened with me."
He admitted that it can 'lead to taking yourself a little too seriously', as he passed on many opportunities that he didn't think were big enough for him.
Unfortunately, this has led to his family being in a tough financial spot after paying for the actor's medical bills after his health battle, as they started a GoFundMe to save their Texan home.
Fans and friends have raised over $1.7 million overnight, as they explained that 'the costs of James's medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds'.
You can donated to the GoFundMe here.
Joshua Nair