Father’s Day is a day to honor the important men in our lives. That could be our father, stepfather, or even a father figure. Sadly, many people have lost their fathers. Beloved Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek passed away in February after a cancer battle. He left behind a wife and six children. His widow, Kimberly Van Der Beek, posted a heartbreaking tribute to her kids’ dad. Stay on this page to see the emotional post.
James Van Der Beek Fought Valiant Cancer Battle
James Van Der Beek gained fame in the 1990s as Dawson Leery on the teen drama Dawson’s Creek. The actor competed on Season 28 of Dancing With the Stars in 2019. During the semifinals, he revealed that his wife, Kimberly, had suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage.
They welcomed a rainbow baby in 2021, but the actor’s time with his son was short-lived. James Van Der Beek revealed in late 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer the previous year. He tragically passed away in February 2026 at the age of 48.
James Van Der Beek’s Wife Honors Him On 1st Father’s Day Since Death
James Van Der Beek left behind six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah. They spent their first Father’s Day without their beloved father. But Kimberly Van Der Beek didn’t let the day go by without honoring her late husband.
She shared a post on Instagram with photos of the actor and all of his kids. “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.
Fans React To Heartbreaking Tribute
The loss of James Van Der Beek was heartbreaking for his family and his fans. His wife’s post received hundreds of comments of support. Check out what people had to say about the late actor:
- “Praying for you and the kids today.”
- “From a fan, I admired him so much as the father we got to watch him be from the outside.”
- “He really did seem like a most amazing husband and father. He filled the time he had to bursting.”
- “Thinking of your family today, and continuing prayers!! God Bless!!”
- “He’ll always be with you and all your beautiful children. For those of us like me, who didn’t truly know James, we get to see glimpses of him in your beautiful kids.”
- “This man was made to be a father”
Kimberly Van Der Beek plans to keep her husband’s memory alive for their six children. Some of them are old enough to remember him. Our thoughts go out to his family during this difficult time.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger