Joshua Jackson has opened up about the loss of his former “Dawson’s Creek” co-star, James Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48. Van Der Beek succumbed to stage III colorectal cancer after a two-year battle, leaving a profound impact on those who knew him.

In an interview with TODAY, Jackson shared his feelings on the tragedy, expressing how it affects him differently now that he is a father. “It hits in a variety of different ways,” the 47-year-old Canadian actor reflected. “As a father, the enormity of that tragedy for his family strikes me in a deeper way than it might have when we were just colleagues. The process of grieving is ongoing.”

Jackson, who welcomed his daughter Juno nearly six years ago with actress Jodie Turner-Smith during their five-year marriage, which ended last year, spoke warmly of Van Der Beek. He praised his late friend for transforming into what he described as “a good man.”

“He was a man of belief and faith, qualities that helped him face the impossible with grace,” Jackson said. “He was an incredible partner and husband, a real man who was always there for his family. James was a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, and dedicated father.”

‘He became what we used to just call a good man,’ the Actor Award nominee said.

‘A man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father.’

Joshua Jackson broke his silence about his former Dawson’s Creek co-star James Van Der Beek , who tragically passed away, at age 48, on February 11 following a two-year battle with stage III colorectal cancer – pictured 1998

‘I think it hits in a variety of different ways,’ the Canadian 47-year-old told TODAY on Tuesday. ‘For me as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So I think the processing is ongoing’ (pictured May 27)

Van Der Beek is survived by his widow Kimberly Brook and six children – Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four.

A GoFundMe created by family friends has amassed $2,760,069 from a $1.5 million goal through 51,000 donations – which will ‘help cover essential living expenses, pay medical bills and support the children’s education.’ 

Jackson and the Varsity Blues alum famously portrayed Capeside High School best friends Pacey Witter and Dawson Leery on The WB teen soap for six seasons spanning 1998-2003.

‘He and I shared this very amazing time… and it was formational for us,’ the Doctor Odyssey producer-star said.

‘I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I’m really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life.’

Jackson urged anyone over 45 with an average risk of colon cancer should start screening: ‘Guys don’t like to talk about this. We don’t like to go to the doctor, we don’t like to deal with this stuff.

‘And I know a lot of ways in your life, like that stiff upper lip thing can be helpful, but in this it’s not helpful at all.’

On September 22, the Karate Kid: Legends actor took part in the sold out Dawson’s Creek Class Reunion at the Richard Rodgers Theater in Manhattan organized by Van Der Beek, who sadly could not attend due to his ailing health.

Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps also hosted the live reading of the 1998 pilot episode will benefit F*** Cancer.

Last month, Deadline reported that Jackson will reunite with Dawson’s Creek producer Greg Berlanti to star as grieving chef Cooper in HBO Max drama pilot, How To Survive Without Me.

Jackson continued: ‘He became what we used to just call a good man. A man of the kind of belief, the kind of faith that allowed him to face the impossible with grace, an unbelievable partner and husband, just a real man who showed up for his family and a beautiful, kind, curious, interested, dedicated father’

Van Der Beek is survived by his widow Kimberly Brook and six children – Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four (pictured June 14)

A GoFundMe created by family friends has amassed $2,760,069 from a $1.5 million goal through 51,000 donations – which will ‘help cover essential living expenses, pay medical bills and support the children’s education’

‘He and I shared this very amazing time… and it was formational for us,’ the Doctor Odyssey producer-star said. ‘I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I’m really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life’

On September 22, Jackson took part in the sold out Dawson’s Creek Class Reunion at the Richard Rodgers Theater in Manhattan organized by Van Der Beek, who sadly could not attend due to his ailing health 

Busy Philipps (2-L), Michelle Williams (2-R), Katie Holmes (R), Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith and Meredith Monroe also hosted the live reading of the 1998 pilot episode will benefit F*** Cancer

Last month, Deadline reported that Jackson will reunite with Dawson’s Creek producer Greg Berlanti to star as grieving chef Cooper in HBO Max drama pilot, How To Survive Without Me

And last year, the Olipop paid partner teamed up with his former Dawson’s Creek leading lady Katie Holmes (M, pictured August 15), who directed and co-starred with him in her upcoming trilogy, Happy Hours

Audiences can catch Van Der Beek’s final screen role as murderous pastor Jacob in John Burr’s road trip thriller The Gates, which hits US AMC theaters this Friday 

And last year, the Olipop paid partner teamed up with his former Dawson’s Creek leading lady Katie Holmes, who directed and co-starred with him in her upcoming trilogy, Happy Hours.

In the character-driven dramedy, Holmes and Jackson portray former lovers who cross paths years later and rekindle their romance while navigating the challenges of careers and family responsibilities.

Life imitated art as the 47-year-old Hedda Gabler thespian was in a real-life relationship with the nineties heartthrob during the first two seasons of filming Dawson’s Creek.

The Happy Hours ensemble cast will also feature Mary-Louise Parker, Constance Wu, Joe Tippett, Nathan Darrow, Johnna Dias-Watson and Jack Martin.

Audiences can catch Van Der Beek’s final screen role as murderous pastor Jacob in John Burr’s road trip thriller The Gates, which hits US AMC theaters this Friday.

The Sidelined 2: Intercepted actor also managed to find the strength to shoot a recurring role as Dean Wilson in Legally Blonde’s eight-episode prequel spin-off Elle, which premieres July 1 on Amazon Prime Video.

Laura Kittrell’s nineties-set high school series – which has already been renewed for season two – also stars Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney and David Burtka.