Over the weekend, the Van Der Beeks would have celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary. For Kimberly Van Der Beek (44), it was the first without her husband: Actor James Van Der Beek (1977-2026) died on February 11 at the age of just 48 from complications of colorectal cancer. On Instagram, his widow honored the emotional day with several photos of the couple and hopeful words.
"16 years ago I was the happiest woman in the world when I got to marry @vanderjames", she wrote alongside the pictures. And continued: "The beauty of this marriage continues to unfold anew every day with all these incredible children we have."
"He continues to be present"
The former "Dawson's Creek" star left behind six children: daughters Olivia (15), Annabel (12), Emilia (10), and Gwendolyn (8), as well as sons Joshua (14) and Jeremiah (4). Another picture showed the actor hugging his children. "He continues to be present and guide us", Kimberly Van Der Beek emphasized, concluding with the words: "I am infinitely grateful."
He made his diagnosis public in 2024
Van Der Beek became famous in the 1990s as the lead actor in the teen series "Dawson's Creek". He first spoke about his illness in November 2024 in the US magazine "People". "I have colorectal cancer", he said in the interview. He had been dealing with the diagnosis privately and had taken steps to get it under control with the support of his family. His focus was on his health and his family. According to the report, the cancer had been diagnosed at stage 3.
On February 11, 2026, however, Kimberly Van Der Beek had to announce the sad news of his death. "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek fell asleep peacefully this morning", she wrote on her Instagram account. Her husband had spent his final days "with courage, faith, and dignity". There was much to tell about his wishes, his love for humanity, and the sacredness of time, she wrote, but those days were still to come. For now, the family asked for peace and privacy as they mourned "our beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend".
"We all miss him"
Three months after his death, Kimberly Van Der Beek returned with a series of old family photos and a touching tribute. To say she was inconsolable was a massive understatement, she wrote. Words simply couldn't capture what grief is. The comfort of shock had subsided, reality was catching up with her: "And I miss him. We all miss him."
At the same time, she described a different experience: "There is a different kind of magic in the air. I feel him. I know him more deeply." Her conscious connection to God had deepened and she trusted that this was the path she and her family were always meant to walk.
