At one point, Van Der Beek recalled the exact moment when he realized that Dawson's Creek was going to change his career — and life — forever. "I made a movie when I was 17, a

In 1998, Dawson's Creek hit the airwaves, and four young stars saw their lives change forever: Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and James Van Der Beek. The series aired on The WB, so Van Der Beek didn't think much about the show ahead of its premiere. It was a job, not necessarily a life-changing moment.

Actress Michelle Williams, who played Jen on the WB show for its entire run from 1998 to 2003, was recently asked if she was in touch with her costar, actor James Van Der Beek, since he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.