James Van Der Beek Starring In Hallmark TV Film

November 6, 2009 10:08 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - James Van Der Beek is slowly but surely getting over his "Dawson's Creek" image. The 32-year-old actor, who played the iconic Dawson Leery in the former teen drama, will be starring in a new holiday-themed Hallmark Channel Original Movie.

"Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle" will tell the story of a heaven-sent housekeeper who magically transforms the lives of an emotionally-depleted widower (Van Der Beek) and his six-year-old twins. Doris Roberts will play the housekeeper.

The role is Van Der Beek's first opportunity to play a father, which delighted the actor who has long been associated with being a teenage icon.

He said, "I was glad to finally play the dad. And it was really fun to work with the kids in the cast. A lot of my day was spent playing off of their energy and joy, explaining how things worked on the set, making a game of the whole thing."

But it was not his fatherly character that made him accept the part, saying, "The main reason I took the part is to work with Doris, who is such a trip. She's just one of these iconic forces of nature and so interesting and terrific."

After "Dawson's Creek" ended in 2003, he went back to theater and appeared in some made-for-TV-movies and numerous TV series as guest stars.

"Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle" will premiere on Hallmark on December 5.