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Katie Holmes made her first public appearance following the tragic passing of her cherished “Dawson’s Creek” co-star, James Van Der Beek.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Holmes demonstrated remarkable strength and professionalism by taking the stage for a performance at the Old Globe in San Diego, California, on Wednesday night.
Exclusive photos from Page Six reveal Holmes seamlessly stepping into the role of the lead character in Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler,” showing no signs of missing a beat.
Sources indicate that the 47-year-old actress, clearly affected by the loss, chose not to interact with fans gathered at the stage door and refrained from mentioning Van Der Beek during the entire evening.
After the performance, Holmes quietly exited through a private door and left the venue, maintaining her privacy during this difficult time.
Page Six has reached out to Holmes for comment but did not immediately hear back.
The performance kicked off just hours after news broke that Van Der Beek, who had been battling stage 3 cancer since August 2023, had died at the age of 48.
After the “Varsity Blues” star’s death, Holmes took to social media to share a touching handwritten message in honor of her late co-star.
“James, thank you. To share a space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression,” she penned.
“These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth.”
The “First Daughter” star then listed some of Van Der Beek’s best qualities, including “compassion, bravery, selflessness and strength.”
“An appreciation for life with the integrity that life is art — creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children — the journey of a hero,” she added.
Holmes added that she is mourning the loss of Van Der Beek “with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it.”
She concluded the message by addressing her late co-star’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their kids, writing, “We are here for you always. And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion.”
Meanwhile, James’ friends created a GoFundMe to help the actor’s family with expenses following his death. Over $1.5 million has been raised at the time of publication.