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James Van Der Beek held his family dear, even in the face of adversity, before his untimely death.
As In Touch reported earlier, James passed away on Wednesday, February 11, at the age of 48, after battling cancer for an extended period. The Varsity Blues actor was diagnosed with the illness in August 2023 and revealed his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis to the public in November 2024.
James married his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, in 2010, and together they have six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4. In 2020, the family made a significant move from Los Angeles, California, to Texas.
In December, the Dawson’s Creek alum sat down for an interview from his Texas ranch — which he called his “happy place” — with Today’s Craig Melvin and shared insight into how his wife has supported him following his diagnosis.
“I wouldn’t be here without my wife,” he confessed. “She has taken on roles as my caregiver, nurse, and the leader of our household.”
James also opened up about how his children have been dealing with his illness.
“As much as I want to shield them from seeing me in any kind of pain or just stress, you know, I wanted to be Superman, Super Dad, you realize that resilience is not only something they have and can build, but it’s the best thing for them,” he reflected.
While James could not attend the Dawson’s Creek reunion in September in New York because he had a stomach bug, Kimberly and the kids made the trip in his place.
“They got a standing ovation just for taking their seats. All that love that would have otherwise been directed at me was directed at my family, and that was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever gotten to witness,” James shared with Melvin. “I’m just so grateful to the fans for doing that.”
Additionally, Van Der Beek told Today in a separate appearance in July that his and Kimberly’s “approach was just be as honest as possible… to the degree of their understanding,” explaining “they can sense if dad’s having a tough day.”
In August, James and Kimberly celebrated 15 years of marriage. The Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23 alum marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to his wife.
“You are the most extraordinary human I’ve ever met. One day I’ll tell the story of what you’ve endured these last two years and how you’ve shown up, time and time and time again,” he penned. “You have not only saved my life… you’ve shown me what it is to live. There are no words for how much I love and appreciate you. I could not do this without you.”
Following James’ passing, a statement was shared on his Instagram, which read: “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come,” the statement continued. “For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
A GoFundMe was started by Kimberly to “cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children’s education,” according to the description.