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Prime Video’s Elle debut is bittersweet for the inaugural cast, as they celebrate the start of their new show while mourning the absence of costar James Van Der Beek.
The Legally Blonde prequel, streaming now, marks Van Der Beek’s final TV role before his death in February at age 48. While speaking exclusively to Us Weekly, June Diane Raphael said it was “the honor of my professional life” to serve as Van Der Beek’s scene partner in season 1.
“I loved acting with James,” she told Us about their characters crossing paths in the show.
When fans meet Elle’s (Lexi Minetree) mother, Eva (Raphael), in the show, she is struggling just as much as her daughter after leaving Los Angeles for Seattle. Enter Van Der Beek’s character, Dean Wilson, who encourages Eva to help him with his run for office.
“He is just so charming in this show. I think his fans are going to be so excited to see him and to see his work in this,” Raphael, 46, gushed. “We had so much fun together.”
Despite their bond off screen, Raphael recalled being worried that Eva’s digs at Dean Wilson would upset the actor.
“I’m really attacking the way he looks and what he’s doing,” she added. “I checked in with him at one point and was like, ‘Is this OK? Because I’m improvising a little too?’ And he was like, ‘Just give me [it] … I love it.’”
Raphael walked away from the experience with a new respect for Van Der Beek. She recalled getting to see the Dawson’s Creek alum reach a milestone when his kids visited him on set. (Van Der Beek shared six children with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek.)
“There wasn’t a moment on set where he wasn’t talking about them,” she continued. “He brought two of his daughters to the set, which was really special. … Kimberly shared with me that was the first time they had really been able to be on set with him. To bring your daughters to a workplace means that he really loved it [here] and really wanted it modeled for them.”
Van Der Beek’s wife confirmed his death at age 48 earlier this year writing via Instagram, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
Kimberly, 43, shared kids Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, with the late actor.
“There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time,” she wrote at the time. “Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
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