Poor Dawson, he doesn’t even have Joey to protect him.

James Van Der Beek and his wife, actress Heather McComb, have separated, his rep confirms to Usmagazine.com exclusively. “They remain good friends,” his rep tells Us.

The two split two months ago, adds a source. Van Der Beek, 32, and McComb, 32, wed in Malibu in July 2003 — two months after he ended his six-year run on the popular teen drama Dawson’s Creek. [USmagazine.com]