He's Gonna Be Me! James Van Der Beek admits to lending Justin Timberlake his ID to sneak into Vegas club in the '90s

By Alanna Lynott

With terrible fashions and cringe-worthy hairstyles, no one could truly call themselves cool in the '90s.

However, if there was one person burgeoning boy band 'N Sync though was trendy, it was James Van Der Beek AKA the soppy long-haired star of teen drama Dawson's Creek.

And, as James admitted on Friday, he even tried to smuggle an underage Justin Timberlake and his gang into a Las Vegas nightclub in 1998, just before the band hit the big time.

How sweet! James Van Der Beek (L) admitted he lent his ID to an underage Justin Timberlake to sneak him into a Vegas club in 1998
How sweet! James Van Der Beek (L) admitted he lent his ID to an underage Justin Timberlake to sneak him into a Vegas club in 1998

How sweet! James Van Der Beek (L) admitted he lent his ID to an underage Justin Timberlake to sneak him into a Vegas club in 1998

'I was in Vegas one New Year's and somebody came by and said, ''N Sync wants to meet you!'" the 37-year-old told Huff Post Live. 'And at the time, 'N Sync was the second tier Backstreet Boys, it was before they had blown up. They had just come out with some Christmas album, like at the same time 98 Degrees did.'

'So, I said, "okay." And I met them and they were so sweet, they were so nice. They were such cool kids and I immediately liked them,' the Don't Trust The B**** In Apt 23 star continued.

'I remember that night, we were all going to some club and they were all too young. And so I went in and somehow passed my ID back so that Justin could get in,' he explained.

They were cool in the 90s! Justin and his fellow 'N Sync band members (pictured here in 1997) asked to meet James at a time when they were considered a 'second tier' Backstreet Boys

They were cool in the 90s! Justin and his fellow 'N Sync band members (pictured here in 1997) asked to meet James at a time when they were considered a 'second tier' Backstreet Boys

Fresh faced: Dawson's Creek debuted in January 1998, when James was 21 and old enough to get into nightclubs and drink legally in the US

Fresh faced: Dawson's Creek debuted in January 1998, when James was 21 and old enough to get into nightclubs and drink legally in the US

However, plans went awry for the 17-year-old popster when another member of the band tried the trick.

'Then Justin got in and then tried to pass it off to [Lance Bass] to get in. By the third time [the bouncers] saw a James Van Der Beek ID, they were like, "Ah, I don't think so, James."'

Dawson's Creek became a huge hit during its run from 1998 to 2003, and catapulted Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson to stardom, while 'N Sync went on to release a string of successful albums.

Much improved with age, James Van Der Beek is about to star in new TV series Friends With Better Lives, alongside Brooklyn Decker.

Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake outgrew his dorky phase, became an internationally successful solo singer and married movie star Jessica Biel.

That's better! The pair (pictured in 2013) have come a long way since their dorky early days
That's better! The pair (pictured in 2013) have come a long way since their dorky early days

That's better! The pair (pictured in 2013) have come a long way since their dorky early days



The comments below have not been moderated.

God they've definitely improved with age!!

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90s fashion and overall style in general, good god.

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Hahahahahaa Justin T as a teenager that picture is priceless!

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An interesting case where they both got better with age!

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Not really! IMO many stars have gotten better with age, especially those who had that awkward puberty phase!

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Oh god Justin used to look so scary c

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That N Sync guy next to him looks like a pineapple with that hair.

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Haha!

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love james!

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I loved Dawson's creek! Great hangover tv!

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Justin looked so effeminate

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ew. justin was gross

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I LOATHED that hair. What is with these 90's ex-stars confessing now, just a short while ago it was Melissa Joan Hart saying she helped Britney get into a club.

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