EXCLUSIVE: Joshua Jackson Makes First Comments on James Van Der Beek’s Death on TODAY

Joshua Jackson is breaking his silence about the death of his late "Dawson's Creek" co-star, James Van Der Beek. He made his first public comments on his passing in an exclusive interview on TODAY on March 10.

"I think it hits in a variety of different ways," he said. "For me, as a father now, I think the enormity of that tragedy for his family hits me in a very different way than just as a colleague. So I think the processing is ongoing."

Van Der Beek died in February, sparking an outpouring of grief from his “Dawson’s Creek” family.

"He and I shared this very amazing time ... and it was formative for us," Jackson continued on TODAY. "I know both of us look back on that time with great fondness, but I will also say that I know that I'm really just a footnote in what he actually accomplished in his life."

Jackson, 47, has partnered with the NHL and AstraZeneca as part of the pharmaceutical company’s Get Body Checked Against Cancer campaign, which highlights the importance of getting screened for cancer.