Lexi Minetree Mourns James Van Der Beeks Passing

's co-star in his final screen project has reflected on the actor's 'charm and kindness' on set.

The Dawson's Creek star filmed the Legally Blonde prequel Elle in spring 2025. He died in February at age 48 following his battle with colorectal . 

Elle's lead star Lexi Minetree has recalled the energy James brought to set, and said his death just months after they worked together 'broke my heart.'

The newly released TV series Elle stars Lexi as a teenage Elle Woods and follows the future lawyer through her high school years in 1995. 

James plays mayoral candidate and school superintendent Dean Wilson in the drama, which sees original Legally Blonde star  serve as executive producer.

Lexi has vivid memories of her first meeting with James, telling Josh Smith's Great Chat Show podcast: 'When I first met him, we were in the hair and makeup trailer, and I remember he just walked in and he has this natural charisma about him.'

'It almost felt like was walking in, he just has such a charm and a kindness to him and especially like what he had gone through.'

'He, of all people, had the right to not have energy and introduce himself. And yet, he went up to every person in that room and was like, "I am James." And just like seeing him work, he was incredible.'

She added that James 'was also hilarious. And I think their charisma in the show is absolutely wonderful.'

'I'm really proud to have gone to work with him, and I broke my heart to hear about what had happened,' Lexi admitted. 'But I hope when people watch it, they just see what a talent he was. And I think people are going to see the charm that just like, rolls off of him.'

Lexi gushed that one of her favourite moments was when James brought his daughters Annabel, 12, and Emilia, 10, to set. 

James' wife Kimberly recently spoke about their daughters' visit to set at the  premiere of Elle.

In a clip from the event shared on Instagram, Kimberly, 44, revealed that daughters Annabel and Emilia each got the chance to spend time with their father while he was filming the series.

'Emilia and Annabel had the pleasure of separately being on set with him,' she wrote. 'They treated the kiddos beautifully and he was so proud of this role... especially because his daughters were so looking forward to watching it!'

James and Kimberly, who married in 2010, also share Olivia, 15, Joshua, 14, Gwendolyn, eight, and Jeremiah, four. 

Kimberly's emotional recollection was echoed by Elle co-showrunner Caroline Dries, who said James remained a constant source of positivity throughout production despite his private health battle. 

Speaking in the clip, Dries said the actor – who plays a mayoral candidate in the Legally Blonde prequel – found real comfort in being on set and stepping into the role. 

'James told me that acting allowed him to be someone [else] and forget the pain he was in,' Dries said. 'But even off camera, James appeared to be buoyant and happy.'

She also recalled how naturally he blended family life with work.

'He brought his daughters to set, he sat with us on plastic folding chairs in video village, he made us laugh, he told us stories and he showed us nothing but kindness,' she said. 'This would be James' last role. Our cast gave him the space to feel that joy.'

In a separate interview with People, Dries said it had been 'such a privilege' to help provide Van Der Beek with a welcome distraction after his cancer diagnosis.

'James said to us, 'When I'm acting, I forget all the stuff I'm going through personally, and I get to become a different person, and you can just turn that part of your life off,' she recalled.

Listen and watch Josh Smith’s Great Chat Show on Spotify.