Katie Holmes, Kevin Williamson On James Van Der Beek

Katie Holmes has become the first surviving member of Dawson’s Creek‘s lead quartet to publicly share her reaction to the death of their co-star and friend James Van Der Beek at the age of 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer. Also breaking his silence is Dawson’s Creek creator Kevin Williamson.

“I formed some words with a heavy heart,” Holmes wrote on Instagram late Wednesday night. “This is a lot to process. I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James’ journey. He is beloved.”

Holmes, who played Van Der Beek’s love interest on the show, also posted a handwritten thank you note to her former co-star.

“To share space with your imagination is sacred,” she wrote. “Breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other’s hearts are safe in their expression. These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth.

“Bravery. Compassion. Selflessness. Strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art, creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children, the journey of a hero.

“I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it.”

Holmes and Williamson both expressed their support to Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their children.

Williamson admitted that it’s been hard to write a tribute to the late actor.

“Several times today, from my heart, I’ve tried to form the words to express the beautiful brilliance of James and what his presence has meant to my life. But I am truly at a loss for words,” he wrote on Instagram next to image of him and Van Der Beek over the years. “I will have to trust that one day those words will come…”

Created by Williamson, Dawson’s Creek followed the lives and loves of a group of tight knit group of friends from Massachusetts. Van Der Beek starred as the titular Dawson Leery. Holmes played his girlfriend, Joey Potter, with Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter, and Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley.

The popular — and influential — teen drama ran on the WB for six seasons, from 1998 to 2003.

It made stars out of its four young leads, most of whom were still teenagers when they were cast. They remained close after the end of the series, with Holmes, Jackson and Williams headlining a Dawson’s Creek-themed fundraiser for Van Der Beek last fall, which Williamson also was part of.

Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson’s mother, and Busy Philipps, who played Audrey Liddell in the final two seasons, also participated in the fundraiser. They penned tributes to their former co-star earlier on Wednesday.

“James, my gracious warrior, you fought a hard battle against all odds with such quiet strength and dignity,” Humes wrote.

Said Philipps, “My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today… every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him.”