June Diane Raphael Says James Van Der Beek Was 'Always Talking' About His Kids on “Elle” Set: 'He Adored Them' (Exclusive)
June Diane Raphael Says James Van Der Beek Was 'Always Talking' About His Kids on “Elle” Set: 'He Adored Them' (Exclusive)
Julia MooreTue, June 30, 2026 at 6:59 PM UTC
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June Diane Raphael attends the New York City premiere of 'Elle'; James Van Der Beek and kidsCredit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty for Prime Video; Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram -
The new Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, marks James Van Der Beek's final onscreen role after his February death
June Diane Raphael tells PEOPLE about her "special" experience working with and getting to know him on set
Van Der Beek was "so charming" and was "always talking about his family, and his kids, and how much he adored them," Raphael says
June Diane Raphael treasures the time she spent working alongside James Van Der Beek.
The actress, 46, worked with Van Der Beek on Elle, the new Legally Blonde prequel series, which will mark his final onscreen role. He died in February at age 48, over a year after he revealed he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
"I consider my time with James the most meaningful time I've spent in my career," Raphael tells PEOPLE. "I'm so honored to have had that time with him and to have shared those scenes with him."
The Dawson's Creek star was "just so charming and easy, easy, easy to work with," Raphael says. "There's an ease about him that I found really amazing."
Her biggest takeaway from her time working with the actor was his love for his kids. He shared six kids — daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, and Gwendolyn, 7, and sons Joshua, 14, and Jeremiah, 4 — with wife Kimberly Van Der Beek.
"The main thing I'm walking away with is James — whenever there's a spare moment and they call, 'Cut,' and sometimes even when they didn't — was just always talking about his family, and his kids, and how much he adored them," Raphael says.
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June Diane Raphael as Eva Woods and James Van Der Beek as Dean Wilson in 'Elle'Credit: Kimberley French/Prime Video
Raphael, who shares two sons of her own with husband Paul Scheer, says that she and Van Der Beek's shared love of their family bonded them on set. "We connected on that level so immediately," she adds. "He was just so enamored with his children and his wife, Kimberly, and told me all about them."
Another "special" moment for Raphael during production came when Van Der Beek brought two of his daughters to set on different occasions. "I know how careful and judicious so many actors are about what sets they'll bring their kids onto. So the fact that he did that a few times meant the world to me, because it means this is a workspace you want modeled for your daughters, especially."
"It was really cool for them to see their dad work," she adds. "It was really a special experience."
James Van Der Beek as Dean Wilson in 'Elle'Credit: Kimberley French/Prime Video
Following the New York City premiere of the new Prime Video series, Van Der Beek's wife Kimberly reposted a PEOPLE video to her Instagram Stories and shared more details about her daughters' set visit.
"Emilia and Annabel had the pleasure of separately being on set with him. They treated the kiddos beautifully," Kimberly, 44, wrote over a video that showed co-showrunner Caroline Dries speaking about the set visit at the premiere.
"He was so proud of this role," Kimberly added. "Especially because his daughters were so looking forward to watching it!"
Elle premieres on Wednesday, July 1 on Prime Video.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
