Van Der Beek is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
Van Der Beek, famously known for his role in Dawsons Creek died on February 11th at the age of 48 after a long battle with colorectal cancer. The news of his death was posted by his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, on Instagram. She said: "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. 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."
Shortly after the death of the star, Kimberly posted a GoFundMe link in order to help pay for expenses regarding to his extended medical treatments. She wrote along with the link to the fundraiser page, “My friends created this link to support me and my children during this time, with gratitude and a broken heart.”
The fundraiser states that throughout the late Van Der Beeks illness the family faced "not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care."
Kimberly and the six children are now facing an "uncertain future" as the extended medical treatment has left them "out of funds."
The fundraiser note concludes with a statement thanking those for "considering a gift to support them." Friends of Kimberly wrote: "Your generosity will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children’s education. Every donation, no matter the size, will help Kimberly and her family find hope and security as they rebuild their lives. Thank you for considering a gift to support them."
The fundraiser target was initially set at $500,000, but just hours after being published they had reached their target. At the time of writing the fundraiser has been adjusted to $1.3m and now sits at $1,222,956.
Van Der Beek had been open about his battle with colorectal cancer and the financial impacts of the disease. In November of 2025, the actor put props from Dawsons Creek under the hammer to raise money for his cancer care. He told PEOPLE magazine at the time that he had been storing these treasures for years waiting for the "right time to do something with them," adding that "it’s clear that the time is now".
