James Van Der Beek’s widow, Kimberly Van Der Beekpaid her respects to Eric Dane‘s household after his premature dying at 53.
“RIP @realericdane. We love you,” Kimberly, 44, wrote by way of her Instagram Tales on Saturday, February 21. “Will miss our guys laughing at Christmas events collectively.”
James died on February 11 on the age of 48 following a battle with stage III colorectal most cancers.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek handed peacefully this morning,” a press release shared by way of Kimberly’s Instagram learn. “He met his last days with braveness, religion, and charm. There’s a lot to share relating to his needs, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. These days will come. For now we ask for peaceable privateness as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and buddy.”
James Van Der Beek was candid about his colorectal most cancers battle earlier than his dying in 2026. “Every year, roughly 2 billion individuals all over the world obtain this prognosis. And I’m one among them,” the Dawson’s Creek alum shared in an Instagram put up on the time, noting that he was “in a superb place and feeling (…)
Dane died one week later on Thursday, February 19, after battling ALS. He’s survived by his two kids with Rebecca Gayheart.
James, who’s survived by Kimberly and their six kids, introduced in 2024 that he was recognized with stage III colorectal most cancers one 12 months prior.
“About as quickly as I heard the information, I assumed, ‘That is gonna be one of the best factor to ever occur to me.’ I had this little voice in my head that stated, ‘You’re gonna make adjustments in your life that you’d by no means, ever make should you didn’t have this excessive of a prognosis, and it’s gonna add wholesome, comfortable years to your life,’” James stated on Immediately in December 2025. “I don’t assume I knew what it was to decelerate earlier than … to essentially have a look at every little thing I eat, every little thing I put in my physique. Actually, the most important change I’d say could be this journey of self-love. What I noticed was, I’m nonetheless worthy of affection. My very own love, God’s love.”
In accordance with James, his prognosis had “modified every little thing.”
James and Kimberly Van Der Beek in December 2025.
Courtesy of Kimberly Van Der Beek“It’ll change the way in which I dwell for the remainder of my life,” he stated. “Presence, I feel, is admittedly the present that most cancers’s given me.”
James additional shared a well being replace on the time.
“I really feel just a little bit higher each month. It’s required extra of me — extra endurance, extra self-discipline,” he stated, two months earlier than his dying. “Extra power than I knew I had. I knew I used to be robust, I didn’t know I used to be this robust.”
James Van Der Beek is paying tribute to his family members amid his battle with Stage III colorectal most cancers battle. Reflecting on his “robust 12 months” after receiving the prognosis, the actor, 47, confirmed gratitude for his spouse, Kimberly, 42, their six kids (Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, Gwen, 6, and Jeremiah, 3) (…)
Kimberly, who was married to James since 2010, remained steadfast by his aspect amid his most cancers journey.
“It’s so acceptable that your birthday is on Worldwide Girls’s Day since you are such a lovely place for our little women to discover what it’s to be absolutely expressed of their genuine selves,” Kimberly wrote by way of Instagram in March 2024, sharing a birthday tribute to James. “You’re an unimaginable instance for our sons. This 12 months notably, you have got exemplified grace, bravery, vulnerability, authenticity and alchemy along with your coronary heart and divine essence because the information put up.”
She concluded, “Wishing you magic, plentiful well being, unfolding your goals and divine path alignment. I like you. And to our associates, THANK YOU for the way in which you’ve proven up for this monumentally superb human this 12 months.”
Kimberly traveled to New York Metropolis together with her kids for a dwell Dawson’s Creek pilot studying months later in 2025, supporting James’ most cancers battle. He was unable to attend after battling a abdomen bug.
“They’re magic, sort, gifted, coronary heart ahead and … sacred.” Kimberly wrote by way of Instagram in September 2025 of James’ Dawson’s Creek costars. “Missed my man so. However the assist and the love has been therapeutic to the core.”