The year was 1999, and a young thespian by the name of James Van Der Beek was on top of the world. He had the title role in the popular tv series Dawson’s Creek, his teen football comedy Varsity Blues was the #1 movie in America and he was selected one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.”
So what happened to “The Beek”?
“My fall from grace was blindingly fast,” Van Der Beek told OMGG.com. “It began in 2003 when Dawson’s Creek ended and I became addicted to aspirin.”
From there, his career spiraled. In 2006, he starred in the direct-to-DVD thriller The Plague. The following year, he had a small part in the off-Broadway play Rain Dance. By 2009, he was completely out of showbusiness, working as a receptionist at a Ford dealership.
“My fans have deserted me, but I’m mounting a comeback,” said the former star. “I recently started teaching improv in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas and I haven’t touched a Tylenol in nearly five years.”
October 11, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT