The death of James Van Der Beek on February 11 at the age of just 48 is a tragedy that resulted in outpourings of emotion from fans and fellow celebrities alike. The Dawson's Creek vet passed away after a battle with colorectal cancer, after first being diagnosed in 2023 and announcing the news publicly in 2024. Now, friend and Dancing with the Stars co-host Alfonso Ribeiro has opened up about the last time they saw each other, reflecting on the "roller coaster ride" of Van Der Beek's health.
While both men were big names in the '90s for Dawson's Creek and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, fans saw James Van Der Beek join Dancing with the Stars in Season 28. Alfonso Ribeiro has been associated with ABC's dance show going back to his victory in Season 19 and expanding to now place him as co-host. While fans may have known about the DWTS link between them, Ribeiro's Instagram post following Van Der Beek's death shines a light on the friendship that blossomed outside of the public eye:
