Dawson Leery (Played by James Van Der Beek)

Read the Globe-Net Interview

Character Profile

Dawson is a budding filmmaker who idolizes Steven Spielberg. An only child, Dawson is driven, though sensitive to the evolving dynamics of his personal relationships. Dawson often agonizes over his seemingly perfect life. His lifelong relationship with his best friend Joey Potter has taken many difficult twists and turns and his parent's separation has had a strong effect on him. Jen Lindley, who moved to Capeside in the first episode of Dawson's Creek, instantly captured Dawson's heart. Their relationship didn't last long but nevertheless they still remain friends as is Dawson with Pacey Witter. Clearly Dawson's life is becoming more complicated as he struggles with the many growing pains kids his age often face.
 
 

Actor Biography

Fate certainly played a hand in James Van Der Beek's entrance into the acting world, but it was his dedication and talent that earned leading roles in "Dawson's Creek" and two provocative new films - "I Love You...I Love You Not" and "Harvest."

Suffering a mild concussion when he was 13 years old, the athletic Van Der Beek wasn't permitted to play on the football team that year. So, for the first time, he decided to try out for the school play and landed the lead role of Danny Zuko in the school's production of "Grease." Bitten by the acting bug, he continued to do local children's theater in his hometown of Cheshire, Conn.

He was still focused on acting at age 16, so his mother agreed one summer to travel the three hours each way to New York City in order for him to pursue acting professionally. While he landed an agent and a manager on their very first visit, he didn't find much success auditioning for commercials.

The next year, he was cast in the Off-Broadway play, "Finding the Sun," which was written and directed by Edward Albee. He describes this as the defining experience for him as an actor, and commuted six hours every day during the limited three-month run for rehearsals and performances in the middle of high school. After that experience, he starred in "Shenandoah" at the Goodspeed Opera House.

His first on-screen performance came with a starring role in the 1995 feature film "Angus," and he is featured in the upcoming release "I Love You...I Love You Not" with Claire Danes. Last summer, he completed the independent feature film "Harvest."

A dean's list student, Van Der Beek received an academic scholarship from Drew University in Madison, N.J., where he majors in English with a minor in sociology. In what little free time he has, he enjoys writing and playing all kinds of sports.