Dawson's Creek Actor James Van Der Beek Dies at 48

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Van Der Beek was a generational icon who mastered the art of self-aware celebrity by turning his teen heartthrob image into comedy gold. His willingness to mock his own fame and embrace the absurdity of his crying Dawson meme showed rare intelligence about the entertainment industry. From playing exaggerated versions of himself to competing on reality shows while battling cancer, he proved that joining in on the joke beats fighting typecasting every time.