Kimberly Van Der Beek Shares Emotional Tribute to Late Husband Through Daughter's Smile
Kimberly Van Der Beek, the widow of actor James Van Der Beek, has revealed the special trait that their eldest child Olivia shares with her late father. In a poignant Instagram story shared on Monday, the 44-year-old mother of six posted a sweet selfie with her 15-year-old daughter, highlighting how Olivia possesses her father's distinctive smile.
A Father's Legacy Lives On
Nearly two months after James Van Der Beek's passing on February 11 at age 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer, Kimberly continues to honor her husband's memory through their children. The Dawson's Creek alum's death was confirmed through a heartfelt post on his official Instagram account, where his family described how he met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.
Kimberly and James Van Der Beek married in 2010 and welcomed six children together: Olivia, 15; Joshua, 14; Annabel, 12; Emilia, 10; Gwendolyn, 7; and Jeremiah, 4. In her recent Instagram story, Kimberly wrote alongside the photo with Olivia: 'My first born baby has her Daddy's gorgeous smile @vanderlivy.' The image shows both mother and daughter sharing gentle smiles toward the camera during an outdoor moment.
A Family's Journey Through Grief
The actor's cancer journey began in November 2024 when he publicly announced his stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis. According to sources close to the family, the cancer proved particularly aggressive, and medical treatment options eventually became limited. Following his passing, an outpouring of tributes flooded social media from fans and former colleagues, including Dawson's Creek castmate Katie Holmes.
Last month on March 8, which would have been James Van Der Beek's 49th birthday, Kimberly shared a series of emotional posts honoring her late husband. One slide showed the couple posing together with the caption: 'Would be your 49th birthday today. And I'm missing you tremendously.' Another image featured James taking a selfie with four of their children, accompanied by Kimberly's words: 'You are the light of our lives. Your love. Beauty. Presence. Tenderness. Protection. Safety. Creativity. Singing.'
Children's Touching Tributes
Kimberly also shared a video created by their 10-year-old daughter Emilia, who offered heartfelt advice about processing grief. In the clip, Emilia wears a cap she 'stole' from her father to remember him and explains how she talks to him daily about her feelings and experiences. The young girl shared: 'I know that my dad's in a good place. He's not in pain anymore. He's in heaven above the clouds with God and the Lord.'
Emilia revealed special advice her father gave her before his passing: 'Something my dad told me was if this doesn't work out the way he wanted it to and the way we wanted it to for him living, I still have to believe in miracles. Miracles can still happen, just later on in life, and they'll keep coming.'
A Father's Lasting Impact
James Van Der Beek had previously spoken about the transformative power of fatherhood during a 2023 interview with Good Morning America. He described how becoming a parent changed everything for him, shifting his priorities from himself to his children. 'You just go for that shift ... from putting yourself first to other people - these little tiny humans that you love so much - being your first priority,' he explained.
The actor continued: 'And then you know what you genuinely want is to take care of [them], to make them feel safe, [and] keep them safe to connect with them and feel that joy.' He concluded by calling fatherhood 'the craziest, craziest thing I've ever done, and it's the thing that's made me happiest.'
As the Van Der Beek family continues to navigate their loss, Kimberly's recent tribute through Olivia's smile serves as a powerful reminder of James' enduring presence in their lives. The family has requested peaceful privacy as they grieve while also sharing moments of remembrance with those who admired the late actor's work and character.
