James Van Der Beek sadly revealed that his cancer battle prevented him from being the father he wished to be to his six children before he passed away at the age of 48.
Actor Michael Landon, best known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, died last Wednesday, February 11th, after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer. He and his wife, Kimberly, had recently reaffirmed their commitment to each other in a vow renewal ceremony just days before his passing.
James Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children: Olivia (15), Joshua (13), Annabel (12), Emilia (9), Gwendolyn (7), and Jeremiah (4).
I always admired how open he was about his life, and it really shone through even in the months before he passed. I remember he shared a sweet post on Instagram celebrating his youngest son, Jeremiah’s, fourth birthday – it was such a genuine moment and showed how much he cherished being a dad.
He admitted he hadn’t always been the father he wanted to be, explaining there were times he lacked the strength to fully care for his child – to play, comfort, or simply tuck them in at night.
‘But know that watching you reveal yourself to us has been one of the greatest joys of my life.’
The actor ended his heartfelt social media message with a personal note to his sixth child.
Honestly, he’s not a big hugger, but when he does finally decide to wrap his arms around me, it’s the most incredible feeling. Everything just… stops, and for a moment, everything feels perfect. It’s like the world fades away and it’s just us, and it’s amazing.
I love you so much, sweetie, and I’ll always feel that way. Just being yourself is enough, and that’s all I ask. Happy birthday to my wonderful son! ❤️
This news follows the recent discovery that Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, had reaffirmed their commitment to each other in a vow renewal ceremony just before he passed away on February 11th.
Kimberly shared with People magazine that she and her partner had a very personal wedding ceremony that was quickly organized thanks to the support of their friends and family.
‘We decided two days beforehand, and our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles, and we renewed our vows from bed,’ she explained.
She called the moment ‘simple, beautiful, and deeply touching,’ sharing it with close family and friends, and including others through a Zoom connection.
Poranguí, a friend of the couple, played music during the ceremony and finished with a beautiful version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.
They first met and fell in love in Israel in 2009, and a year later, they got married in a private ceremony there as well.
Kimberly was pregnant with their first child, Olivia, which made the day particularly joyful for the family.
Sixteen years after they first met, Kimberly sadly announced the passing of James on Instagram, sharing a touching message about the much-loved actor.
‘Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,’ she wrote.
He faced his final days bravely, with strong faith and dignity. We will share more soon about his hopes, his deep care for others, and how much he valued every moment. The time to do so will come.
We are heartbroken and ask for privacy and peace as we mourn the loss of our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
This announcement of Alfonso Ribeiro and his wife renewing their vows follows a recent, heartfelt post Ribeiro shared about his last time with friend Van Der Beek.
Ribeiro is the godfather to Van Der Beek’s daughter Gwendolyn.
The actor shared on Instagram that he was with the Dawson’s Creek star just before he passed away.
Ribeiro shared a touching photo along with a message explaining it was taken by @vanderkimberly shortly before saying goodbye to someone.
He recalled their final moments being joyful, filled with laughter, and remembered his last act was simply making him laugh one more time.
The news of the loss was felt deeply in Hollywood, and many of the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ cast, including Katie Holmes, shared heartfelt messages.
In a handwritten note shared on Instagram, actress Holmes, known for her role as Joey Potter, praised Van Der Beek, highlighting his courage, kindness, generosity, and positive outlook on life.
She said she was deeply saddened by his passing, feeling both the pain of his absence and immense thankfulness for the impact he had on her life.
The actress shared a heartfelt message, saying she was struggling to come to terms with some difficult news. She expressed deep gratitude for having known James and spoke fondly of him, noting how much he was loved.
Busy Philipps, known for her role as Audrey Liddell on Dawson’s Creek, shared a tribute on Instagram as well.
She expressed her deep sadness for everyone affected by his passing, recognizing the grief felt by his friends, family, and fans.
Philipps expressed deep sorrow for Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their six children. She described him as a truly exceptional and unforgettable person who will be greatly missed.
She expressed her gratitude for their long-lasting friendship, noting how close they were both while working together and in their personal lives.
Other stars also reacted to Van Der Beek’s death.
Reese Witherspoon, who is also a producer on the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel Elle, shared that she was deeply saddened to hear about Van Der Beek’s passing, and that he will appear in the film.
She described him as an incredibly gifted and kind person, always acting with grace. She also said she was keeping his family in her thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
Following the family’s announcement on Wednesday, more stars joined in sharing condolences.
James David Van Der Beek passed away peacefully this morning. He faced his final days with courage, faith, and grace, and had many thoughts to share about life, love, and appreciating every moment.
I know brighter days are ahead, but right now, we’re just asking for a little peace and quiet as we mourn the loss of our incredible husband, father, son, brother, and friend. It’s a deeply painful time, and we need space to grieve.
Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lucy Hale, Christie Brinkley, and Rumer Willis all showed their support by liking the post.
A GoFundMe campaign was started on Wednesday to provide financial support for the Van Der Beek family, aiming to raise $500,000.
Oh my gosh, Kimberly just posted on Instagram and it broke my heart! She said her friends made a link to help her and the kids through whatever she’s going through, and she’s so grateful but clearly devastated. I’m sending all the love and support! I need to know what’s happening, but I also want to respect her privacy. It’s just…so sad to see her hurting.
Your donation will help with basic needs like housing and bills, and will also support the children’s schooling.
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2026-02-18 21:23