Kimberly Van Der Beek Honors Late Husband on First Father’s Day
Kimberly Van Der Beek shared a poignant tribute to her late husband, actor James Van Der Beek, on the first Father’s Day since his passing. The star, known for his role in “Dawson’s Creek,” died in February at the age of 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
A Heartfelt Celebration of a Father’s Love
On Sunday, June 21, Kimberly took to Instagram to honor James, posting a slideshow featuring cherished moments of the actor with their six children over the years. “Missing you so much and thinking of how magnificent you were in every single way today. And somehow, from the other side? You continue to parent. You’re a marvel. 🩵” she wrote in the caption.
The collection of photographs included individual shots of James with each of their children: daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 10, and Gwendolyn, 8, as well as sons Joshua, 14, and Jeremiah, 4. The post also featured heartwarming group photos, including one of the family cuddling in bed and another capturing playful poses on a sunny day. A particularly touching image showed the entire Van Der Beek family beaming together on a boat.
Remembering a Life Together
Kimberly also shared two personal photos of herself with her late husband. James and Kimberly, whose maiden name is Brook, first met in 2009 while vacationing in Israel. They exchanged vows on August 1, 2010, in a small ceremony in Tel Aviv, Israel, at the Kabbalah Centre near Dizengoff Square.
In February, Kimberly revealed that she and James had participated in a “simple and beautiful and moving” vow renewal ceremony with close family and friends, some joining virtually, shortly before his passing. “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 shared with People magazine at the time.
Facing Cancer with Courage
James publicly shared his diagnosis of stage 3 colorectal cancer in November 2024, more than a year after his initial diagnosis in August 2023. He had chosen not to disclose his illness to the public for some time.
On February 11, Kimberly announced his death through a statement shared on James’ official Instagram account. “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” the statement read. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
A Daughter’s Wisdom on Grief
In honor of what would have been James’ 49th birthday on March 8, Kimberly shared a touching video recorded by their daughter Emilia. In the clip, Emilia offered insights into coping with loss. “As you all know probably now, my dad has passed away, but I’m just going to tell you little tips, or anything that helps you getting through anybody you love who’s passing,” Emilia began.
She continued, “So today is my dad’s birthday, and the No. 1 thing for somebody’s passing is to talk to them and let your emotions out. If you miss them, you can cry, you can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day and I start with a sentence and I say, ‘Hi dad, I miss you and I love you so much, and I’ll never stop loving you.'”
Emilia explained her daily conversations with her father, sharing details about her day and her feelings. “And I just tell him about my day, how I’m feeling, and I tell my family how I’m feeling, and I know he can hear me, but I can’t hear him. My mom can,” she said. “You just, you have to feel them in your heart, because they’re in your heart. They’re watching over you. They are a part of your body, and in a good place. I know that my dad’s in a good place. He’s not in pain anymore. He’s in heaven.”
Emilia also advised that it is acceptable to express sadness and anger, while cautioning against self-blame. “Be sad because you miss them. You can be angry but don’t blame yourself. Blaming yourself — it’s not a good strategy for someone’s passing,” she stated. She also touched upon the nuances of grief, noting that no two people experience loss in the same way. “Everybody has different emotions in their body and they express it in different ways, many, many different ways.”
Recalling her father’s words, Emilia added, “Something my dad told me was, if this didn’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.” She emphasized that miracles can occur later in life and that even if they don’t manifest as expected, it’s important to remember that loved ones may have “work to do on the other side.”
Emilia concluded by sharing her belief that her father was a good man and that prayers were offered for him by many. She keeps one of his hats, which still carries his scent, as a tangible connection to him. “A lot of people loved him, and people prayed for him, and he was loved by many, many hearts and many, many people,” she said.
