Kimberley Van Der Beek has shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, nearly four months after the death of her husband, actor James Van Der Beek. James, best known for his role in 'Dawson's Creek', died on 11 February 2026 at the age of 48 following a long battle with colorectal cancer. He leaves behind Kimberley, 44, and their six children.
In a series of Instagram stories, Kimberley posted clips from James' past interviews. One from July 2023 showed him discussing the importance of allowing children to feel and process their pain. Another clip, from the 'Bathroom Chronicles' podcast in March 2023, featured James explaining his discomfort with the term 'miscarriage', as it implies the woman is at fault. Kimberley, who has experienced pregnancy loss, captioned the post: 'I am so blessed I got to be married to this man and go through pregnancy loss and having babies with him.'
On 12 May, marking three months since his death, Kimberley shared a series of family photos. 'Yesterday was three months since we lost @vanderjames,' she wrote. 'To say I'm heartbroken is a severe understatement. Words just don't capture what grief is. The comforts of shock have worn off. The reality is settling in... and I miss him. We all miss him.'
The family has faced significant financial strain due to James' medical costs. A GoFundMe page, initially set up with a goal of $500,000, was increased to $1.5 million after an outpouring of donations. The page states: 'Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care.'
James' representative told People that the children have found the experience 'grounding' and 'a different kind of education'. The family also faced a $270,000 tax debt in 2021 and 2022. Kimberley expressed gratitude for the support, describing it as 'tremendous' and saying she 'could have never expected' it.
