He recently shared his experience before the most recent freeze on social media, and the story, which includes meeting a complete stranger, is just too good not to share.
In the Dawson's Creek star's TikTok video, he revealed he needed some tools to get his wood-burning stove to work before the frigid, below-freezing temperatures hit the state.
This included what he called a "drug deal for fireplace parts" that required meeting a complete stranger who had what he needed the ol' Texas way: via trade-off in a parking lot.
"Yes, I used whatever celebrity I have to convince someone to meet me in a parking lot," he joked.
Van Der Beek and the stranger he met.vanderjames | TikTok
The parking lot trade was successful, and the actor and his family got to enjoy nice fires for the three days of the year a person can actually use a fireplace here.
TikTok users are now joking about how the celeb went about obtaining the part.
"That is also how you buy tamales in Texas," a user wrote, to which Van Der Beek replied with a laughing emoji.
