Katie Holmes appears onstage after James Van Der Beek's death

Katie Holmes was seen for the first time since the death of her "Dawson’s Creek" co‑star James Van Der Beek, appearing Wednesday night at the Old Globe in San Diego. She portrayed the lead in Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, and photos show her continuing the performance without missing a beat.

A devastated Holmes, 47, “didn’t engage with fans waiting for her at the stage door or mention James” at any point throughout the evening. Following the show, the actress “left discreetly” out of a private exit and drove away. The performance took place 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.

Holmes shared a handwritten message in his honor: “James, thank you.

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