James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a household name as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek, died on February 11, 2026, at 48, following a long battle with colorectal cancer. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Kimberly Brook Van Der Beek, and their six children, who became the center of his world in the years after teen stardom.
Kimberly shared the news of his death in an emotional Instagram statement, telling followers, “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”
For many fans, her words were a reminder that behind the actor audiences grew up watching was a man whose proudest role was at home.
A Meeting That Marked a New Beginning
James met Kimberly in 2009 during a trip to Israel, at a moment when his life was already undergoing profound change. His previous marriage to actress Heather McComb had recently ended, and he later reflected on wanting something deeper and more lasting.
What he found in Kimberly was exactly that.
Their connection moved quickly and decisively. Within a year, they were married, beginning a partnership built on shared faith, family, and a desire to create a life that felt grounded far from Hollywood expectations.
Building a Big, Loving Household
Not long after their wedding, the couple began welcoming children, and the rhythm of their lives changed forever.
Their first daughter, Olivia, was born in 2010. A son, Joshua, followed two years later. Annabel arrived in 2014, then Emilia in 2016, and Gwendolyn in 2018. By the time Jeremiah was born in 2021, James and Kimberly had embraced the beautiful chaos of raising a large family.
Even that final pregnancy came as a surprise. Sharing a photo of himself holding his newborn son, James admitted they had believed they were finished having children. “We weren’t trying for more kids,” he wrote. “We were done. But fortunately, this chunky little angel knew better.”
Friends and fans saw a man who wore fatherhood with pride. Interviews, social posts, and red-carpet moments increasingly revolved around the joy he found at home.
Who Is Kimberly Van Der Beek?
Though widely recognized as James’s partner, Kimberly built creative pursuits of her own.
She was credited as an associate producer on the 2010 documentary Teenage Paparazzo, and in 2020, she appeared in Home Movie: Princess Bride, the celebrity-driven lockdown retelling of the beloved film.
Years later, she stepped into the podcast space, co-hosting Bathroom Chronicles alongside Peggy Rometo. Running from 2023 into early 2024, the show explored wellness, spirituality, and deeply personal conversations, welcoming guests that ranged from biohacker Dave Asprey to dancer Emma Slater.
The Woman He Leaned On
As James faced the most difficult chapter of his life, he became even more open about what Kimberly meant to him.
During an appearance on Good Morning America, he said her care during his illness forced him to understand unconditional love in a way he never had before. A man who once prided himself on doing everything for everyone else suddenly had to learn how to receive, and Kimberly was there at every step.
His gratitude spilled onto social media repeatedly. In a 2025 anniversary tribute, he called her the most extraordinary person he had ever met and promised that one day he would fully tell the story of how she had shown up for him “time and time and time again.” He added that she had not only saved his life, but shown him what it truly meant to live.
When his health prevented him from attending a Dawson’s Creek reunion later that year, Kimberly and their children went in his place. She explained simply that it was important to him they be there, another example of how fiercely she carried out his wishes.
A Love He Celebrated Long Before the Diagnosis
Public declarations of admiration for Kimberly did not begin with his illness.
Back in 2020, celebrating ten years of marriage, James praised her bravery, tenderness, and refusal to accept anything less than what life could be. He called her the best human he knew and said he looked forward to continuing to earn their partnership in the years ahead.
Before this chapter of his life, James had been married to actress Heather McComb. They wed in 2003 and separated amicably in 2009, shortly before he met Kimberly and began again.
