- Primary Subject: James Van Der Beek's final onscreen performance and tribute in Elle
- Key Update: Elle features the final onscreen performance of the late James Van Der Beek.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 3, 2026
- Quick Answer: The Prime Video series Elle features James Van Der Beek's final role and honors the late actor with an emotional onscreen tribute card before the credits.
Elle paid tribute to the late James Van Der Beek as he marked his final on-screen role in the newly released Prime Video series.
The Dawson's Creek star passed away at the age of 48 earlier this year, and now, fans are able to see his final work as he has a recurring guest role in the first season of the Legally Blonde prequel series. His scenes were filmed less than a year before his passing.
How Elle Honored James Van Der Beek in Final Onscreen Role
In the first season of Elle, Van Der Beek played the role of Dean Wilson, the school district superintendent who was also running for mayor of Seattle.
Toward the season finale, Elle Woods exposed his extortion scheme with Principal Anderson, which led to his arrest, despite having befriended her mother, Eva Woods, to help with his campaign.
Following his first appearance in the third episode, the series honored the actor with a tribute card just before the closing credits. It read, “In loving memory of James Van Der Beek.”
In an interview with People, June Diane Raphael, who plays Eva Woods and shared a lot of scenes with Van Der Beek in the first season, reflected on her experience working with the late actor on the set.
"I consider my time with James 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. "[He was] just so charming and easy, easy, easy to work with. There's an ease about him that I found really amazing."
The actress shared that Van Der Beek usually talks about his family whenever they chat on the set.
"The main thing I'm walking away with is James — whenever there's a spare moment, and they call, 'Cut,' and sometimes even when they didn't — was just always talking about his family, and his kids, and how much he adored them," Raphael said.
What Is Elle About?
Elle follows Elle Woods before she was a fish-out-of-water at Harvard. We meet her in 1995 as a fish in the tumultuous waters of high school, where she encounters tricky friendships, forbidden romance, and questionable fashion choices.
Through it all, Elle uses her family as a touchstone and forms an even tighter bond with her mother, proving that they can get through anything life throws their way as long as they have each other. With each challenge she faces, Elle grows closer to the Elle Woods we know and love today.
The cast includes Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Jacob Moskovitz, Gabrielle Policano, Chandler Kinney, Zac Looker, and Amy Pietz. Recurring cast members include Brad Harder, Chloe Wepper, Danielle Chand, David Burtka, James Van Der Beek, Jessica Belkin, Kayla Maisonet, Lisa Yamada, Logan Shroyer, Matt Oberg, and Sharon Taylor.
All episodes of the first season are currently available to stream on Prime Video.
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