Austinites will soon have the chance to own a piece of television history — and help the actor it came from. Spicewood transplant and Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek is selling off personal memorabilia in an online and in-person auction December 5-7 to help fund his ongoing cancer battle.
The star's effects will be sold through Propstore, a U.K.-based firm that specializes in entertainment collectibles. Although the in-person Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction will be held in London, Texans can still bid through the online portal.
"While I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore's auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years," Van Der Beek told People in a November interview.
Among the items on the block is the prom necklace given by Van Der Beek's character, Dawson Leery, to Katie Holmes' Joey Potter, and a lot of posters and other objects used to decorate Leery's Dawson's Creek bedroom set. Elder millennials will also be happy to know that several clothing items are for sale, including a flannel shirt and a pair of Varsity Blues' cleats.
Pop culture fanatics will also find plenty of non-Van Der Beek artifacts among the haul. Among the items featured are a Spartan costume from 300, a pair of very creepy stop-motion puppets from Addams Family Values, and a Xenomorph tail used in Alien.
"As the year draws to a close, Propstore is thrilled to bring collectors an extraordinary lineup — from the festive joy of Elf to the timeless adventure of Indiana Jones and the interstellar legacy of Star Wars," Propstore CEO Stephen Lane said via a release. "Each piece is a tangible piece of storytelling history, connecting fans directly to the films that shaped their imaginations."
During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the 48-year-old actor moved from California to a Spicewood ranch located about 45 minutes from Austin proper. His diagnosis with colorectal cancer in 2023 has caused him to be largely absent from public life. Health issues caused him to miss a September Dawson's Creek reunion and script reading organized as a benefit for his care.
