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James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, leaving an indelible mark on both film and television. Best known for his role as the affable Dawson Leery on “Dawson’s Creek,” Van Der Beek also showcased his versatility by playing the troubled Sean Bateman in the dark comedy “The Rules of Attraction.” This character stood in stark contrast to his usual roles and was the sibling of Patrick Bateman, the infamous protagonist from “American Psycho,” played by Christian Bale.
Paramount Pictures
The characters of Sean and Patrick Bateman were crafted by author Bret Easton Ellis, who frequently revisits Patrick in his literary works. “The Rules of Attraction” serves as a precursor to “American Psycho,” presenting Patrick as successful and serious, without any indication of his future as a notorious serial killer.
In the film adaptation of “The Rules of Attraction,” Patrick Bateman is mentioned but never appears, connecting the movie to “American Psycho” within the same narrative universe. However, in deleted scenes, Patrick does make an appearance, albeit not portrayed by Bale.
In the theatrical cut of the film version of “The Rules of Attraction,” Patrick never shows up onscreen, though he’s briefly referred to — meaning the two movies share a universe, no matter what. But in a set of deleted scenes, Patrick actually appears onscreen — just not played by Christian Bale.
Two scenes featuring Patrick Bateman were shot for “The Rules of Attraction” but were ultimately cut from the final release. Actor Casper Van Dien stepped into the role for these sequences.
A different actor almost played Patrick Bateman in The Rules of Attraction
One of these scenes, released online by director Roger Avary, depicts Sean phoning Patrick from a pay phone, seeking financial help to pay off a drug dealer. Patrick dismisses Sean’s plea, advising him to find his own solution. Frustrated, Sean curses at Patrick before slamming the phone down, while Patrick nonchalantly requests his Perrier from his secretary.
The second scene remains unreleased, but according to Casper Van Dien, it is a memorable moment. Once again, Patrick is on the phone with Sean, tapping his fingers on something. The camera reveals Patrick drumming on a severed head inside a plastic bag. “Then, I get up and dance with it in a leopard Speedo G-string, blood everywhere,” Van Dien told People Magazine. This startling scene, a favorite of Avary’s, was omitted to prevent an NC-17 rating from the MPAA. Despite the omission, these scenes confirm the Bateman brothers’ connection, illustrating that their bond, albeit dark, is unbreakable.
The first — which was released online by director Roger Avary – sees Sean call Patrick on a pay phone, desperate to cobble together enough money to pay back a drug dealer he owes. Patrick listens to Sean’s pitch but turns him down cold, telling him to get a job of his own. Sean curses his brother out and slams the receiver into the wall, but Patrick remains unmoved after Sean hangs up, simply asking his loyal secretary Jean for the Perrier he previously requested.
The second hasn’t made it out of the director’s vault, but according to Casper Van Dien it’s a wild one. Patrick is again on the phone with Sean, but this time he can be heard tapping his fingertips against something. The camera pulls back to reveal that Patrick is drumming atop a woman’s severed head, which is sitting in a plastic bag. “And then, I get up and I dance with it in a leopard Speedo G-string with blood everywhere,” Van Dien explained to People Magazine. This moment — Avary’s favorite in the film, according to the actor — was only cut to keep the film from being slapped with an NC-17 by the MPAA. While all of the Patrick Bateman scenes ended up on the cutting room floor no matter how gory they were, they exist as proof that the two are brothers — and that blood is definitely thicker than water.
