James Van Der Beek: From 'Dawson's Creek' to 'Apt 23,' Dawson Leery Returns to Television [PHOTOS]

Nearly a decade ago, Dawson's Creek fans bid adieu to the beloved characters played by James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson.

With Holmes filling up her days with mommy and wife duties to Suri and Tom Cruise, respectively, Michelle Williams making big headlines with stellar movie performances and Joshua Jackson holding strong with Fringe, Van Der Beek has remained comparatively quiet over the years, professionally speaking.

In addition to a handful of guest appearances on shows like How I Met Your Mother, One Tree Hill and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Van Der Beek, now 35, has been keeping busy with his personal life. In 2010, months after finalizing a divorce from actress Heather McComb, Van Der Beek married business consultant Kimberly Brook. The two are now proud parents to two children, Olivia, 1, and Joshua, who was born in March.

On Wednesday, Van Der Beek will return to the tube -- and it's not a guest appearance. The actor whose name was synonymous with Dawson Leery will begin a full-time stint on ABC's Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, a sitcom that also stars Krysten Ritter (27 Dresses, Breaking Bad).

The catch is that Van Der Beek will be playing an overhyped version of himself, with the nickname The Beek From the Creek.

I took myself way too seriously . . . the ego certainly is the biggest obstacle as an artist or performer, so any chance you get to destroy that is really healthy, Van Der Beek recently told the LA Times.

In honor of James Van Der Beek's return to television, let's take a trip down memory lane. Click through for photos of Van Der Beek through the years. (And cue Paula Cole's I Don't Want To Wait.)

Will you watch James Van Der Beek in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23?