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Kimberly Van Der Beek is remembering her late husband, James Van Der Beek, on what would have been his 49th birthday.
On Sunday, March 8, Kimberly shared a series of emotional Instagram Stories paying tribute to the Dawson's Creek actor, who died on Feb. 11 at age 48 after battling stage 3
colorectal cancer. The posts featured photos and videos from family moments over the years, many showing James spending time with their six children.
Alongside a photo of the couple together, Kimberly wrote, "Would be your 49th birthday today. And I'm missing you tremendously."
She continued the tribute with several clips and images capturing the actor's life at home with their family. One video showed him outdoors, which she captioned, "Just a year and a half ago. Doing what he loved. Working this land." Another clip highlighted one of his projects around their property, with Kimberly writing that building things at home had been another passion of his.
Other posts focused on James' close bond with their children. In one video, he was seen dancing with them, which Kimberly described simply as him "always dancing with his kids." Additional photos showed family trips and everyday moments together.
The couple shared six children: daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah. Kimberly's posts reflected on the memories they built together as a family, including travels and time spent raising their kids.
"You are the light of our lives," she wrote in another message posted over a family photo. She continued by listing qualities she associated with her husband, including his "love," "beauty," "presence," "tenderness," "protection," and "creativity." "I'm so grateful for the time," she added.
In another post, Kimberly shared a deeply personal message about her grief following his death. "Baby, you were the best humanity had to offer," she wrote. "This is a loss I don't know how to process. I will love you forever."
James and Kimberly first met in 2009 and married in August 2010. Over the years, they built their family together while balancing careers and raising their children. In 2020, the couple moved from Los Angeles to Texas, where they focused on a quieter lifestyle with their kids.
The actor publicly revealed his colorectal cancer diagnosis in late 2024, explaining that he was concentrating on his health and spending time with loved ones while undergoing treatment. The cancer had been discovered earlier, following a routine colonoscopy in August 2023.
After his death, Kimberly announced the news on Instagram with a message honoring her husband's strength during his final days. She wrote that he "passed peacefully" and faced the end of his life with "courage, faith, and grace."
Just days before his passing, the couple renewed their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony at home. Kimberly later shared that the decision was made only two days
beforehand. Friends helped organize the moment by bringing new rings and decorating their bedroom with flowers and candles.
In the weeks following James' death, friends of the family also launched a GoFundMe to help support Kimberly and the couple's six children, citing the significant financial strain caused by medical expenses during his cancer battle.
