The 'Dawson's Creek' alum, who died in February at age 48, plays mayoral hopeful Dean Wilson in the new show
Credit: Kimberley French/Prime Video
NEED TO KNOW
- James Van Der Beek is being remembered during his final role
- Prime Video‘s Elle featured a special dedication to the actor at the end of its third episode on Wednesday, July 1
- The performance marks Van Der Beek’s last before he died in February at age 48
Elle has paid tribute to James Van Der Beek as he marks his final role.
The Legally Blonde prequel series, which premiered on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 1, wrapped its third episode with a special dedication to the late actor as the show marks his final onscreen performance.
At the end of the episode's credits, a title card appears on screen, reading: "In loving memory of James Van Der Beek.”
The performance was Van Der Beek's last before he died in February at age 48, over a year after he revealed he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. In the show, the late actor plays mayoral hopeful Dean Wilson, who first appears in its third episode.
Credit: Prime Video
The importance of the Dawson's Creek alum's involvement in the series was not lost on his costars. June Diane Raphael told PEOPLE in an interview published on Tuesday, June 30 that she considered her experience working alongside the actor to be "the most meaningful time I've spent in my career."
"I'm so honored to have had that time with him and to have shared those scenes with him," she said, adding that Van Der Beek was "just so charming and easy, easy, easy to work with."
Van Der Beek was dad to six kids — daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, and Gwendolyn, 7, and sons Joshua, 14, and Jeremiah, 4 — whom he shared with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek. As Raphael explained, he was "always talking about his family, and his kids, and how much he adored them." She also recalled the actor bringing two of his daughters to set on different occasions.
"I know how careful and judicious so many actors are about what sets they'll bring their kids onto. So the fact that he did that a few times meant the world to me, because it means this is a workspace you want modeled for your daughters, especially," she said.
Kimberly shared a message to her Instagram Stories after the show's New York City premiere, confirming that Emilia and Annabel "had the pleasure of separately being on set with him" and that those on set "treated the kiddos beautifully."
"He was so proud of this role," Kimberly wrote. "Especially because his daughters were so looking forward to watching it!"
Elle follows Lexi Minetree as she steps into the role of Elle Woods, the beloved character originated by Reese Witherspoon in 2001's Legally Blonde. Taking place in 1995, season 1 finds Elle "in the tumultuous waters of high school where she encounters tricky friendships, forbidden romance and questionable fashion choices," per its synopsis, as she must navigate a family move to Seattle.
Co-showrunner Caroline Dries also told PEOPLE at the New York City premiere that Van Der Beek "appeared to be buoyant and happy" on set. "He brought his daughters to set, he sat with us on plastic folding chairs in video village, he made us laugh, he told us stories and he showed us nothing but kindness," she said. "This would be James' last role. Our cast gave him the space to feel that joy."
All eight episodes of Elle are now available on Prime Video.
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