James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly renewed their wedding vows in an intimate bedside ceremony just days before the actor's death from colorectal cancer. The Dawson's Creek star passed away aged 48 on 11 February, surrounded by loved ones.
Kimberly told People magazine that the couple decided on the renewal two days beforehand. 'Our friends got us new rings, filled our bedroom with flowers and candles, and we renewed our vows from bed,' she said, describing the moment as 'simple and beautiful and moving'. The ceremony was watched by family and friends via Zoom, with close friend Porangui providing music, including a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
The couple, who first married in August 2010, share six children: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4. In the weeks before his death, Van Der Beek also secured a £3.5million ranch in Texas for his family, purchasing the 36-acre property off-market on 9 January to provide a stable home after his passing.
According to a source speaking to the Daily Mail, the actor had been in hospice care for several weeks and grew increasingly frail. 'He was rail thin when he passed and mostly in bed because he was very weak,' the source said, adding that his deterioration was 'hard to watch'.
In her announcement of his death, Kimberly said: 'Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.' The family has requested privacy as they grieve.
