James Van Der Beek | Screenwriter

Van Der Beek was an instant sensation when he played the role of Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, where a lot of teens saw him as an embodiment of teenage angst. It is worth noting that Van Der Beek started his acting career at a relatively young age. He was 13 years old when a football hit his head, forcing him to take a pause from sports. Eventually, he was cast as Zuko in his school’s production of Grease. Four years after the incident that drew him to acting, the football player turned actor was cast in a play called Finding the Sun. For the coming years, his passion for acting seemed to dwindle. Van der Beek returned to studying and excelled. However, the college spirit did not also last in him, so he took his mind off school and traveled. Upon his return, perhaps an epiphany struck him. The actor went on to audition for Dawson’s Creek and has been successful ever since.

Aside from acting, Van Der Beek has also been producing movies and has been a screenwriter. He also takes credit for being involved in charities that focus on helping children with dyslexia.