James Van Der Beek’s heartfelt phrases about his household have come to gentle following the Dawson’s Creek star’s loss of life at 48.
The actor shared that his brood felt full after he and his spouse Kimberly Van Der Beek welcomed their sixth little one, Jeremiah, in October 2021.
“He’s actually been a blessing,” the actor instructed Individuals in an interview that passed off in November 2022, however was printed on Friday, February 13, within the wake of his loss of life.
“I imply, that is going to sound bizarre, however when he arrived, we actually simply thought, ‘Oh my God, how did we exist with out him?’ Which is insane as a result of we had 5 kids earlier than that,” James, who died on Wednesday, February 11, after a battle with stage III colorectal most cancers, instructed the outlet on the time.
James Van Der Beek recalled the second he discovered about spouse Kimberly Van Der Beek‘s 2019 being pregnant loss — which got here throughout his time on Dancing With the Stars. “It was simply a lot ache, and it was so sudden as a result of every little thing was proper, every little thing was (a) fairy-tale. Every little thing was coming collectively completely,” the Dawson’s (…)
He added, “However given every little thing we went by way of main as much as him, the truth that he was a boy simply felt so therapeutic for us.”
Along with Jeremiah, James and Kimberly shared Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, and Gwendolyn, 7. The couple additionally suffered being pregnant losses in 2019 and 2020 earlier than welcoming “rainbow child” Jeremiah.
“He anchors the household in a very stunning approach. The women all dote on him. My son as a brother. And yeah, it’s simply magical comfortable little king booty boy that will get every little thing he needs,” James continued. “And isn’t afraid to demand it.”
James Van Der Beek and son Jeremiah.
(Photograph courtesy of James Van Der Beek/Instagram.)James usually spoke about how a lot his household meant to him. To mark his forty eighth birthday in March 2025, the Varsity Blues star mirrored on dealing with his mortality since his most cancers prognosis and the way his well being journey has impacted his household.
Describing the earlier 12 months as “the toughest yr of my life,” James stated the most cancers threw his imaginative and prescient of himself into disarray.
“After I was youthful I used to outline myself as an actor, which was by no means actually all that fulfilling. After which I turned a husband and that was a lot better. After which I turned a father and that was the final word,” he defined, including that he noticed himself as a “loving, succesful, robust, supportive husband, father, supplier, steward of the land.”
When he turned bodily unable to fulfil a few of these roles on account of his sickness, James stated he started questioning his function.
“After which this yr, I needed to look my very own mortality within the eye. I got here nostril to nostril with loss of life,” he continued. “All of these definitions that I cared so deeply about had been stripped from me. I used to be away for therapy so I might not be a husband who was useful to my spouse. I might not be a father who might choose up his youngsters and put them to mattress and be there for them.”
James ended the video by sharing his conclusion that he was nonetheless worthy of self-love regardless of his life circumstances altering.
In November 2025, James as soon as once more mirrored on his “robust yr” and expressed gratitude for his spouse, youngsters and different family members for his or her unwavering assist all through his tough well being journey.
“I’m extra grateful than ever to my tremendous human spouse who has proven up on ranges I by no means knew potential. Who has proven me what unconditional love is and the magic that comes from that. I’m in awe of you, @vanderkimberly,” he wrote by way of Instagram on the time.
Turning his consideration to the couple’s kids, Van Der Beek continued, “And naturally, I’m past grateful (for) the little blond military of hearts who hold me current, lively, and impressed simply by being you. I really like you guys past.”