Kimberly Brook, the widow of actor James Van Der Beek, shared an emotional tribute on Sunday to mark what would have been his 49th birthday. The grieving 43-year-old posted more than sixty Instagram stories, expressing that she misses her late husband "tremendously" and celebrating his life through a series of poignant videos and heartfelt messages.
A Heartfelt Birthday Tribute
The Dawson's Creek alumnus tragically passed away at age 48 on February 11, following a challenging two-year battle with stage III colorectal cancer. Van Der Beek leaves behind his six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, nine, Gwendolyn, seven, and Jeremiah, four. Many of the children appeared in Brook's moving tribute, which showcased intimate family moments and cherished memories.
Cherished Memories Shared Online
Brook, who boasts 482,000 Instagram followers, wrote a touching caption: "The way you were at births, held our newborns, revered me... I will cherish forever." She posted numerous videos from 2025, including clips of Van Der Beek using his muscular physique to clear brush and install wood paneling at their expansive 36-acre Texas ranch, located approximately 45 minutes outside Austin.
In one particularly adorable clip, the Sidelined 2: Intercepted actor featured in a social media video with his daughter Annabel. The pair synchronized perfectly, nodding their sunglasses from the tops of their heads down to the bridges of their noses in unison. Brook, who describes herself as a "medical intuitive," also shared two sweet videos of Van Der Beek dancing with their children, both at home and during spontaneous stops on family road trips.
Expressions of Love and Loss
"You are the light of our lives. You love, beauty, presence, tenderness, protection, safety, creativity and singing," Brook wrote in her tribute. She added, "Baby, you were the best humanity had to offer. This is a loss I don't know how to process. I will love you forever."
Financial Support and Family Milestones
A GoFundMe campaign organized by family friends has successfully raised $2,755,015, surpassing its $1.5 million goal through 51,000 generous donations. The funds are intended to help cover essential living expenses, pay outstanding medical bills, and support the children's education, providing crucial financial stability for the family during this difficult time.
Renewed Vows and Lasting Legacy
The couple, married for fifteen years after meeting during a 2009 vacation to Tel Aviv, Israel, renewed their wedding vows just days before Van Der Beek's passing. Brook revealed to People magazine on February 17, "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 described the ceremony as "simple and beautiful and moving."
Van Der Beek's first marriage to former child star Heather McComb ended in 2010 after seven years. McComb publicly praised Brook for her "incredible" grace under pressure and acknowledged the deep love shared between the couple, calling them "true soulmates" in a February 12 statement.
Upcoming Family Events and Final Projects
Brook will next celebrate their son Joshua's 14th birthday this Friday, followed by her own 44th birthday on March 22 and their daughter Emilia's 10th birthday on March 23. Meanwhile, audiences can witness Van Der Beek's final screen performance as murderous pastor Jacob in John Burr's road trip thriller The Gates, which premieres in US AMC theaters this Friday.
The Varsity Blues alum also managed to complete filming for a recurring role as Dean Wilson in the eight-episode Legally Blonde prequel spin-off Elle. The series, set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on July 1, has already been renewed for a second season. Laura Kittrell's nineties-set high school drama also features Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney, and David Burtka in its cast.
