- - Melissa Joan Hart Reflects on James Van Der Beek Being Her First On-Screen Kiss in “Clarissa Explains It All”

Sabienna BowmanFebruary 14, 2026 at 12:50 AM

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James Van Der Beek (left) and Melissa Joan Hart on 'Clarissa Explains It All'

Nickelodeon

Melissa Joan Hart shared a tribute to James Van Der Beek, who appeared on her hit '90s show, Clarissa Explains It All

In the post, she noted he was her first on-screen kiss when they worked together on the show

The Dawson's Creek star died at age 48 on Wednesday, Feb. 11 after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023

Melissa Joan Hart is remembering the late James Van Der Beek, who appeared on an episode of her '90s hit show, Clarissa Explains It All.

Van Der Beek, who died Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the age of 48, had an incredible career that included his starring role on Dawson's Creek and a hilariously self-referential turn on Don't Trust the B--- in Apt. 23. But the actor's first on-screen TV credit came in a classic episode of the Nickelodeon series Clarissa Explains It All.

In the December 1993 season 5 episode "Alter Ego," written by Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins, a teenaged Van Der Beek made a guest appearance as Paulie, a drummer who Clarissa (Hart) meets while she's pretending to be a goth girl from Long Island named Jade. Throughout the episode, Clarissa goes to great lengths to keep her true identity under wraps for fear that Paulie won't like the real her. However, when she does come clean, her crush says he's "kind of flattered" that she went through so much trouble to impress him.

James Van Der Beek (left) and Melissa Joan Hart on 'Clarissa Explains It All'

Nickelodeon

Hart, 49, shared two throwback photos from the episode on Instagram alongside a heartfelt caption following the actor's death. "I'm heartbroken to hear that @vanderjames has passed away!" she wrote. "He was truly a nice guy, a great father, wonderful actor and will always be my first on screen kiss when he guest starred on #ClarissaExplainsItAll."

The actress continued, "Gone way too soon but it seems like he put up one hell of a fight. We ran into each other at the singing game show #WeAreFamily about two years ago when he sang a song with his daughter, encouraging her like a good dad does. My thoughts and prayers go out to his 6 kids, his wife and family!"

Van Der Beek's wife, Kimberly, announced her husband's death in a Instagram post on Wednesday, February 11. The actor, who shared six children with his wife, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023.

"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," her statement read. "There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

James Van Der Beek on 'Clarissa Explains It All'

Nickelodeon

Van Der Beek was 16 when he made his first credited on-screen appearance on Clarissa Explains It All. While he was charismatic in the small role, it didn't leave a lasting impression on him. In a 2023 interview with Business Insider, the Varsity Blues star said he didn't recall much about his brief appearance on the '90s kid's show, but did remember the kiss.

"All on-screen kisses are awkward, especially at that age," he told the outlet, adding, "My gosh, how old were we? We were teenagers. I was 16 at that point, but yeah."

Hart previously opened up about Van Der Beek being her first on-screen kiss in her 2013 memoir Melissa Explains It All: Tales from My Abnormally Normal Life and during a 2016 interview on The Meredith Vieira Show. At the time, Hart told Vieira that she didn't think Van Der Beek was her "type" personally, but was quick to add he was "so sweet and so, like, lovely."

All five seasons of Clarissa Explains It All are streaming on Paramount+.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”