by Leyla MohammedBuzzFeedBuzzFeed Staff Yesterday, news broke that James Van Der Beek had sadly died at age 48. Kevin Winter / Getty Images The actor, who famously played the titular leading character in Dawson's Creek, was diagnosed with cancer in 2023. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, confirmed the news of his death on Wednesday with a touching Instagram statement that read, "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend." Tasia Wells / Getty Images Several celebrities have since paid tribute to James, including his fellow Dawson's Creek cast members. Fergus Greer/ (C)Columbia TriStar Television / courtesy Everett Collection Katie Holmes, who played his on-screen love interest Joey Potter, shared a touching handwritten note addressed to James. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images "Thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred - breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each others' 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," she wrote. Fred Norris / (C)Columbia Tristar Television / courtesy Everett Collection "Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art - creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children - the journey of a Hero," she said. "I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it," she said, adding, "To Kimberly and the children, we are here for you always. And will always be there to shower you with Love and Compassion." View this photo on Instagram @katieholmes / Via instagram.com Mary-Margaret Humes, who played James's on-screen mother on the drama, shared two photos of herself with him alongside a moving caption. @thereal_marymargarethumes / Via instagram.com "Rarely am I at a loss for words ... today would be the exception. James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity," she said. "I will always love and admire you for that. Our last conversations ... merely a few days ago ... are forever sitting softly in my heart for safe keeping." (C)Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection "To our extended Dawson's Creek family of friends ... please be respectful of our silences at the moment as Beautiful Kimberly and family have asked for peaceful privacy for now," she added. Busy Philipps, who played Audrey Lidell on the show, said she's "profoundly heartbroken" in a touching post. "My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today...every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents and brother and sister," she began. John Nacion / Getty Images "But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife Kimberly and their six magical children. There is a go fund me for them to help out and i'll put the link in my stories. James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and i don't know what else to say. i am just so so sad. He was my friend and i loved him and i'm so grateful for our friendship all these years," she wrote. @busyphilipps / Via instagram.com Indeed, Kimberly revealed that her friends had started a GoFundMe to support her and her children. It has currently garnered over $1.2 million. Chad Michael Murray, who played Charlie Todd, also wrote in an Instagram comment to Kimberly, "Sending love and light to your beautiful family. James was a giant. We're so so so sorry for what you're going through. His words, art and humanity inspired all of us- he inspired us to be better in all ways. God bless you guys." Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images He later shared a link to the aforementioned GoFundMe page and said, "Let's be a blessing to his family. He was a blessing to us," alongside a photo of James. @vanderkimberly / Via instagram.com Fellow cast member Kerr Smith, who played Jack McPhee, also commented under Kimberly's post, "I'm so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I'll miss him deeply. Rest easy." @vanderkimberly / Via instagram.com Sasha Alexander, who played Gretchen Witter, shared a series of photos of her and James and described him as a "deep, thoughtful soul." Amy Sussman / Getty Images "It feels like yesterday that we were sitting beneath those pink Wilmington sunsets, filming during the beautiful Dawson's Creek years. What made Dawson special was the man who played him. James was a deep, thoughtful soul. He took his work seriously, not out of ego, but out