Much like the experience of the character he portrays,James Van Der Beek's dedication and talent surfaced at an early age.A mild concussion sidelined his school football career and instead Van Der Beek,found himself playing the lead role in a local children's theater production of "Grease."He fell in love with the theater and continued to perform locally.

At 17,Van Der Beek was cast in the off-broadway play written and directed by Edward Albee,"Finding The Sun."Juggling the long commute for rehearsals and performances during the play's limited three-month run while attending high school,Van Der Beek credits the play as the defining experience for him as an actor and still managed to finish the school year second in his class.

After landing an agent at 16,he played an arrogant jock in the 1995 film"Angus."Now he's taking time off from Drew University in Madison,New Jersey,to do Dawson's Creek.Strangely one thing has eluded him:commercials."Cereal.Candy.Everything.I still can't get booked."