Michelle Williams was pictured for the first time since the death of her Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek, as she emerged victorious at Sunday’s 32nd Annual Actor Awards in Los Angeles.
The Kalispell, Montana native, 45, was on hand at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, clad in a pink Prada gown as she posed on the red carpet with her spouse, director Thomas Kail, 49.
At the event, the first since Van Der Beek’s tragic death at 48 was announced on February 11 – Williams was honored for her efforts onscreen over the past year.
She received the honors for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for her work in Dying For Sex as Molly Kochan.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight Sunday, Williams said that she has been thinking about Van Der Beek – who she worked alongside on the breakout TV hit Dawson’s Creek from 1998 until 2003 – and his family ‘constantly’ in the wake of his passing.
Williams also thanked the people who have donated to his family via fundraisers.
Michelle Williams was pictured for the first time since the death of her Dawson’s Creek costar James Van Der Beek , as she emerged victorious at Sunday’s 32nd Annual Actor Awards in LA
Williams worked alongside Van Der Beek on Dawson’s Creek from 1998 until 2003
The actress previously won the honors for her performance in Fosse/Verdon in 2020. Williams has been nominated for numerous honors at the award show over the past 22 years.
She had previously earned acting nominations for her work in projects such as The Station Agent, Brokeback Mountain, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea and The Fabelmans.
Van Der Beek’s family said in a statement on his Instagram February 11, ‘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.’
After Van Der Beek emerged publicly with his cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2024, Williams in April of 2025 said she had stayed in touch with her costar amid his illness.
‘We’re in contact, and he’s in our hearts and our minds, and he knows that,’ she said. ‘And we’re here for him in every and all ways.’
Williams last summer put together a Dawson’s Creek reunion at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City for the WB hit that benefit the nonprofit F Cancer.
‘We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime,’ Williams said. ‘We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson’s Creek feel the same way.’
Williams received the honors for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for her work in Dying For Sex as Molly Kochan
The actress previously won the honors for her performance in Fosse/Verdon in 2020
Williams was clad in a pink Prada gown as she posed on her red carpet with her spouse, director Thomas Kail, 49
Van Der Beek did not attend the event last September due to a stomach virus, but left a touching message thanking his colleagues on the series.
‘I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,’ Van Der Beek said in a video clip. ‘I can’t believe I’m not there.
‘I can’t believe I don’t get to see my castmates, my beautiful cast in person.’
He added: ‘And I just want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight.
‘From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.’
Williams spoke with Extra following her victory on Sunday, saying it was ‘very meaningful’ to capture accolades for Dying for Sex.
Williams said she was pleased ‘to be able to make something that’s about women, written by women, directed by women, produced by women is really unusual.
‘And so, I feel like it’s an encouragement and it’s an acknowledgment that work like this has a place, and so I hope I get to do it again and again.’
